10 Things to Do in New Orleans in July

Thinking of 10 things to see and do in New Orleans in July is a no-brainer, as it's the start of summer and the city is flooded with opportunities to entertain in all sorts of ways. In fact, it's one of the best months of the year to have a good diversity of things to see and do in New Orleans.

So the best decision you can make if you're contemplating getting to know this city for a few days in July is to keep reading this excellent summary I've prepared for you.

The Essence Festival will always be at the top of the list of things to see and do in New Orleans in July, as it is one of the most important cultural events in the city and really, in the whole country.

It was born as a simple commemoration of the first 25 years of Essence magazine, a publication that focuses primarily on content for African-American women.

However, the success was resounding and over the years it has grown into an event that has escalated to impressive dimensions. These combine a full line up of musical artists, literary lectures and presentations by personalities relevant to the African American community, especially for the female audience.

Up to 500,000 visitors come from all over the world and especially from all corners of the United States.

Relevant information

• Prices: Most commonly range from $60 US dollars up to $1,000 for a VIP pass. It depends on the event itself, though, as there are special events with an entire theatre or stadium for a single artist, as well as a sequence of dates for the same group of singers.
• Location: can change from year to year, but is usually at the Louisiana Superdome, which has changed its name several times due to commercial sponsorship.
• Dates: always change, but most likely to be the first weekend in July, known in the US as the 4th of July weekend.

Speaking of the 4th of July, you can't miss this great time of year for Americans if you plan your trip for the first week of the month. In turn, New Orleans is known throughout the country as one of the best destinations to celebrate the nation's annual commemoration of independence.

Fireworks are one of the highlights of this celebration and being located at any establishment on the banks of the Mississippi River will give you a great perspective of the white, blue and red colours of the national flag bursting in the sky.

Live music, street performers and a vibrant and flashy nightlife also characterise the celebration of independence in this important southern city.

The Creole Queen is a good plan if you want to be on a typical steamboat for an even closer view of the fireworks.

In addition, jazz and French-American cuisine will be felt in any restaurant you choose to visit, and some of New Orleans' best tour buses may also offer special nighttime tours.

Relevant information

• Prices: Watching the fireworks is a free activity, but any other consumption will depend on the conditions of the establishment you choose.
• Duration: The fireworks usually start after 8 or 9 pm, but recreational activities are available from early morning until after midnight.
• Location: Woldenberg Park or the French Quarter are areas with a wide range of shopping and enough space for you to sit and wait comfortably.

New Orleans is a city that, like Miami, is known in the United States for a rather foreign identity. In this case it stems from the fact that for a long time it was the most important port in what was then French territory.

In 1803 the United States bought it, but to this day there are cultural aspects that remain, such as the allegorical celebration of Bastille Day.

Therefore, on July 14th it is almost certain that the city's restaurants, as well as the bars and street life, will be focused on commemorating a holiday that has little to do with America, but is very important to French history.

Many of these establishments offer dishes directly inspired by French gastronomy and nightclubs, such as the bars of the Royal Sonesta Hotel, also often offer a themed night with music and ambience with a direct connection to the French tricolour.

Some of the best guided tours of New Orleans are likely to give you a fairly detailed historical tour of the aspects of the city's architecture that remain from the colonial period.

Plus, learning about the history of a place from a specialist is always a good idea if that's the kind of sightseeing you're interested in.

• Location: the French epicentre of the city is the French Quarter and its surroundings. Therefore, it is preferable to visit it on this day if you want to enjoy the discounts or entertainment that the locals in the area might offer you.

If the 14th of July already has other plans that don't include the French Quarter in your schedule, don't worry, because the French Quarter is full of life and movement all summer long. The Essence festival and the 4th of July add to the atmosphere to guarantee fun from the first moments of the month.

You'll find that it's a place with a rather unique architectural identity, as it's actually theonly truly colonial neighbourhood still preserved within the United States.

The wide balconies, the colourful porches, the wide variety of ornamental plants and the cobblestone streets are elements that will impress you throughout your stroll.

Jackson Square is an unforgettable stop and the St. Louis Cathedral is a great place to take pictures worthy of a social media post.

Royal, St Louis and Charles Streets offer you buildings indigenous to the city such as the Shotgun Houses and Creole Cottages. The former are narrow and elongated, while the latter are one-storey and colourful.

• Duration: the time you spend touring this neighbourhood is up to you, but it is recommended that you opt for a specialised tour of the French Quarter of New Orleans if you want to understand the historical significance of every corner you see.

If dusk falls while you're still in this corner of the city, you can't miss the chance to experience a typical New Orleans-style night out in July. In fact, Bourbon Street is perhaps the most iconic epicentre of the South's nightlife scene.

From drag shows at the Oz New Orleans bar to burlesque at the Bourbon Boylesque. These are just some of the things to see and do in New Orleansat night.

• Location: It's easy to find, as it's right in the centre of the French Quarter. The streets running north and south through it are also great places to party.

The United States has its own reinvention of the Sanfermines and you have the good fortune that this festival takes place right in the tourist epicentre of New Orleans.

The big difference is that in this case they dispense with the bulls, and the protagonists of the event are allegorically dressed skaters who chase the participants with baseball bats.

The tradition began in 2007, just after one of the big promoters of Mardi Gras experimented with the original bullfight in Spain.

So it's a great plan in July if you're looking to experience an interesting Hispanic tradition on southern American terms and perspectives, where the animal theme is removed and all aspects of the festivities and alcohol consumption are emphasised.

Relevant info

• Prices: Prices vary from year to year, but usually range from US$30 to US$90, depending on whether it is an individual or group purchase.
• Duration: it usually takes place in mid-July, but there are other activities before and after the main event that extend the celebration over several days.
• Location: The corrida usually takes place on a street in the city's French Quarter and due to municipal permitting issues it can vary from year to year.

The American South was one of the regions hardest hit by the injustices and atrocities of colonial slavery.

This system continued even after independence, until the Civil War that pitted the slave states of the south against the industrialised, liberal states of the north. A visit to these gigantic agricultural production areas is an appropriate plan if you're interested in the history of this country.

The best tours to the New Orleans plantations are a safe and practical alternative to see this kind of historical establishment. But keep in mind that this is an event that is more geared towards learning and not so much fun.

Interesting details

• Prices: Rates vary depending on the distance of the plantation from the starting point in New Orleans. You can get some alternatives for around 30 euros and others for 80 or 90 euros.
• Duration: those that include other activities such as photos in period costumes or boat trips through the swamps can take more than 6 or 7 hours. There are others that only require a 2 or 3 hour tour.
• Location: Some plantations are less than 50 km from the city, while other tours, such as the one that takes you to Oak Alley Plantation, are much further away.

July is also known as Father's Month, with many parts of the world celebrating Father's Day on the second weekend. In the United States it coincides with this format, so hosting a lunch or dinner to sample the distinctive elements of Cajun food is an excellent idea.

If you haven't heard of this style of cuisine, you should know that it is the food that has prevailed in the area since the French occupied it in 1803.

Seafood, rice mixes and crab soups are some of the iconic dishes of Cajun flavour. My recommendation is to go for a food tour of New Orleans that offers guided visits to several well-known sites. This way you can gain a solid opinion based on a consistent variety of seasonings and cooking styles.

French Market and Graden District restaurants with an excellent alternative

Clearly, the French Market will be full of options to explore this gastronomic trend. But you can also opt for a stroll through the Garden District to combine the architecture of the nouveau riche Americans of that era with the knowledge that captivated them to settle in this corner of the Mississippi Delta.

A guided tour of the Garden District of New Orleans in New Orleans is a great continuation of the afternoon, or a great prelude to the main course of the meal that celebrates the fathers in your life.

The summer in the American far south is humid during the day, but by nightfall it gets so cool that some people need coats if it's too windy.

Take advantage of these pleasant weather conditions to take a boat ride in New Orleans to tour some of the scenic marshlands nearby.

The vegetation in this type of environment is impressive and there's a good chance you'll come across alligators living in their natural habitat.

Don't worry, the boats on the best swamp tours in New Orleans are completely safe and there is no risk of getting hurt on this natural exploration.

Important details

• Prices: usually vary between 60 and 90 euros per person and you can take into account that most of them offer free cancellation.
• Duration: the maximum duration for this type of activity is approximately 2 hours. Although you should be aware that some offer a transfer to the port of the reservoir and others require you to arrive on your own.

New Orleans has a long historical precedent for the incursion of its population into spiritualistic practices. Even the term voodoo is directly associated with this city in American mysticism.

So booking one of the best alternative ghost tours in New Orleans can be a good way to say goodbye if you are interested in this subject.

Some take you to the city's iconic cemeteries, others include the famous museum dedicated exclusively to this cultural aspect and all are quite entertaining if you look at it with a good eye and leave your preconceptions aside.

At the same time, July is an ideal month to participate in such a tour because the beginning of summer is a time of esoteric mysticism and at the same time there are fewer voodoo enthusiasts than in August or September.

Interesting details

• Prices: All are usually under 30 euros per person.
• Duration: Most offer tours with a guide who will take no more than 2 hours to give you his or her perspective on this unusual underworld.
• Location: Some combine the voodoo corners of the French Quarter with the cemeteries, while others are devoted exclusively to one attraction or the other.

The humidity during July in New Orleans is significantly high, but keep in mind that this entire section of the United States experiences this environment during the summer.

Highs usually reach 35 degrees Celsius and lows 22 degrees Celsius, so I advise you to pack light, breathable clothing, but also a couple of coats to prevent a visit to an air-conditioned place.

New Orleans in July is a city that offers entertainment for all members of the family, regardless of age.

Its gastronomy, history and other children's entertainment activities make it a convenient destination in this month, especially as the US school holidays begin and that translates into a commercial offer that is very focused on the little ones in the house.