New Orleans is a popular destination for travelers the world over for exhilarating and renowned events and festivals throughout the year. Everyone knows about Mardi Gras and the Jazz and Heritage Festival, but the Crescent City is home to a wide variety of entertaining things to do any time of year.

Celebrate the artistry of Louis Armstrong at the Satchmo Summerfest, participate in a “Gay Mardi Gras” at the Southern Decadence Festival and don’t miss the excitement of the Bayou Bacchanal event.

Plan to attend these amazing New Orleans happenings occurring between the months of July and December and make a French Quarter hotel your home base to experience all the fun so you can relax between activities and enjoy a close proximity to these events.

Recommended New Orleans hotels near events:
Holiday Inn French Quarter Hotel
Holiday Inn Chateau LeMoyne hotel in the French Quarter

July

Go Fourth on the River
During your stay at a great French Quarter hotel in New Orleans, take time to enjoy a patriotic annual event that has impressed thousands of New Orleans visitors and locals alike for almost twenty years. Celebrate the stars and stripes in the Big Easy, where you will find an extravaganza of shopping, dining, and live shows throughout the city.

Sit back and take in the sights and sounds of the River parade. Learn how Mardi Gras is made at Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World. Enjoy some world-class shopping in the French Market, Shops at Canal Place, JAX Brewery and the Riverfront Marketplace. Dance to the sounds of lively bands at Woldenberg Park, the Riverwalk Marketplace, Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World and the French Market Performance Pavilion.

Cap off an unforgettable day with the always spectacular Dueling Barges Fireworks display, the highlight of the event that has been named the “5th Must-See Fireworks Display in the U.S.” by the American Pyrotechnic Association.

Essence Music Festival
Held during the Fourth of July weekend, this festival is a celebration of African-American music and culture. Events include crowd-pleasing performances by the top names in soul, R&B, Hip-Hop and more, drawing around 200,000 fans each year from all over the country.

The music is not the only highlight of the festival. Empowerment seminars by renowned speakers are also a staple of the event. The Essence Fest Marketplace, held at the New Orleans Convention Center is the perfect place to find African-style arts and crafts, New Orleans Creole cuisine, clothing, art and jewelry. For your festival lodging needs, turn to one of the best options for New Orleans boutique hotels, located just one mile from the Convention Center.

August

Satchmo Summerfest
If you’re staying at a New Orleans French Quarter hotel, be sure to attend The Satchmo Summerfest, a tribute to the life of renowned jazz artist Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, a free community event held at Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint. This four-day event offers an exciting line-up of musical performances on four stages featuring Traditional Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Brass Band and the Children’s Stage.

In addition to all the toe-tapping music, this event includes speakers, seminars and discussions with recording industry professionals, writers, researchers and musicians. Don’t miss special events such as the Louis Armstrong birthday party, Return of the Satchmo Art Show, kids’ entertainment, parade, a luncheon and more!

Tales of the Cocktail
Place this annual culinary and cocktail festival on your calendar of must-do events in New Orleans. As the birthplace of the cocktail, New Orleans is the perfect location for this unique event.

Inaugurated in 2003, this widespread gathering of mixologists, bartenders, authors, chefs and designers features five days of events including demonstrations, tastings, seminars, competitions, dinner-pairings and more.

September

Southern Decadence Festival
Getting to the famous Southern Decadence Festival is easy when you stay at one of the most charming and affordable New Orleans boutique hotels in the French Quarter. Founded by a small group of friends in 1972, this annual gay festival has become a renowned event, attracting around 120,000 participants each year. Commonly referred to as New Orleans’ “Gay Mardi Gras”, the event takes place each year from the Wednesday before Labor Day into the early morning hours on Labor Day Monday.

Held in the streets and venues throughout the French Quarter, the excitement-filled festival features lively talent contests, musical performances, a colorful parade, costume show and pulse-pounding dance parties.

October

Halloween in New Orleans
Normally a carnival for the senses any time of year, during Halloween, New Orleans’ renowned eccentricities are out in full force during this season. In the Big Easy, dressing up and hitting the streets is definitely not just for kids.

The celebration is not limited to just one day; it is more of a season. Fully-costumed revelers can be seen traipsing the streets, nighttime vampire balls have become a mainstay and the Voodoo Music Festival gains in popularity every year. The Rainbow District also plays host to numerous costume balls and is the location of sizzling non-stop dance parties.

November

Bayou Bacchanal
Attend the exhilarating Caribbean Carnival of New Orleans to be immersed in the rhythms of a steel band, the spicy scents of Caribbean food and the vivid hues of brightly-attired participants.

Hosted by Caribbean Carnival/Friends of Culture, this exciting festival features multi-colored costumes, steel bands, soca music and authentic cuisine. Don’t miss the thrilling parade that starts at Harrah’s Casino, heads down Canal Street and concludes at Armstrong Park, located just half a mile from the Holiday Inn French Quarter hotel.

Bayou Classic
First held in 1974, the Bayou Classic is the yearly meeting between two long-time rivals – Grambling State University and Southern University. One of the most well-known of Black College Football events, this match draws over 200,000 fans each year to the Crescent City.

When you stay at one of the many French Quarter hotels, you will enjoy easy access to the exciting action of the big game. In addition to the main event, this rivalry goes beyond the field with a competition between the school’s bands in addition to a rousing Greek Step Show.

December

Christmas in New Orleans
Spend an unforgettable holiday season in the Crescent City. New Orleans likes to do everything big, and Christmas is no exception. Delight in a dazzling world of twinkling lights, sumptuous holiday meals, angelic Christmas concerts and caroling.

Stroll or take a ride through the city bedecked in its holiday finery with a home and garden tour, learn the art of fine dining with a cooking demonstration and search for the perfect holiday gifts in the shops and boutiques.

New Years in New Orleans
Ring in the New Year in the Big Easy, and it will surely be a celebration you won’t soon forget. From elegant soirees to casual gatherings, this city has a plethora of things to do to commemorate the holiday.

Head to Jackson’s Square, within walking distance of French Quarter hotels, where revelers gather to count down the last seconds of the year. Marvel at the fantastic fireworks display over the Mississippi River to start the new year off with a bang. For families with children, the Louisiana Children’s Museum and the Audubon Zoo feature celebrations for the little ones.

For more information on the most relaxing and conveniently-located of French Quarter hotels, visit:

www.hi-frenchquarter.com or www.hi-chateau.com