New Orleans in July: Fireworks and LL Cool J

New Orleans in July is defined by warm weather, fireworks and festivals. Whether you’re looking for something to do with the whole family, or want a night out with your friends, you won’t come up empty handed.

 

One of our favorite July events in New Orleans is the annual Go 4th on the River celebration. It’s a family friendly event along the river, complete with two fireworks shows being shot by dueling barges on the Mississippi River. It’s also a great day for shopping since a lot of the shops around the French Quarter offer special bargains on this day. 

 

The day after that marks the kickoff of the Essence Music Festival at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Beginning on July 5 and lasting through July 7, this music festival has five stages and over 50 acts each night. More importantly, it’s the largest African-American event in the nation. This year’s lineup includes artists like Brandy, Maxwell, LL Cool J, Charlie Wilson, New Edition, Blackstreet and Big Daddy Kane, just to name a few. 

 

Essence is more than your regular music festival, though. It’s an experience. Authors, experts and community leaders hold workshops. Concert goers can even mingle with the musicians and speakers at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. 

 

And if you’re really brave, you can run with the bulls down the streets of The Big Easy during San Fermin in Nueva Orleans. Not real bulls, of course. You’ll actually be chased by the Big Easy Rollergirls and their meanest counterparts from all over the country. The event takes place July 13 at 8 a.m., but the festivities around the event begin the Thursday night before and extend well into the following Sunday. We can guarantee that fun will be had by all.

 

To see what else is going on in New Orleans in 2013, see our events page.