10 Things to Do in New Orleans in Summer

In summer, the cultural mix that New Orleans is a product of can be celebrated by seeing or doing all that the city has to offer- check out the best ones here! At this time of year, the city's connection to Spain is felt in the Running of the Bulls, a race that adapts (more safely) Spanish bullfighting.

Between July and August, African-American culture in New Orleans is celebrated at two events: Essence Fest and Satchmo Summerfest. But if you're looking to cool off, a trip to the World War II Museum on the 4th of July or a dip in the Cool Zoo pools are just two of the options you can enjoy. Don't miss out on what the summer brings!

If you like to do sport in summer, the San Fermin in New Orleans or Running of the Bulls, as it is known in English, is for you.

It is an event that adapts the traditional Pamplona running of the bulls to a less dangerous but just as fun format.

This event is held during the first days of July, that is, at the beginning of the summer. Those who wish to take part can buy their tickets from 28 euros. Spectators pay nothing.

During the event, two sides are formed. One is the 'bull-girls', who chase the members of the other group; these girls wear a completely red outfit, skates, fake horns on their heads and at least one plastic bat, which they use to 'gore' the runners.

The other side is made up of the runners, who always wear white, with a red accessory, and can be both men and women.

Participants in the New Orleans San Fermin must walk on the street at all times, as the pavement is reserved for adults and children who wish to watch the event.

For more information about the rules of this bullfight or the different ticket prices, check here the official website of the event.

Details of interest

• Price: tickets are available from 28 euros through the official website of the event.

• Venue: The race traditionally starts at the Sugar Mill in New Orleans.

• Date: Early July.

To enjoy the different musical rhythms of African-American culture in New Orleans this summer, you have no better option than to attend the Essence Fest, or Essence Fest as it is also known in English.

If you want to get your tickets for this event, which takes place on the weekend of the 4th of July, you can do so through the festival's official website.

Participants in this event will have the opportunity to listen to live concerts of the best exponents of R&B, jazz, blues, hip hop, gospel, and funk of the moment. During this weekend you can also sample different traditional foods or buy a souvenir at the artisan street market, another of the festival's attractions.

Throughout the Essence Fest there are also multiple lectures, with the aim of discussing the role that African traditions have played in shaping the culture of New Orleans. This is a great option if you're interested in history and civic movements for the rights of racial minorities.

Details of interest

• Price: Tickets for the festival's concerts are available from 70 euros.

• Venue: The festival decides where it will be held each year. To find out the venue go to the event's website.

• Date: The festival takes place on the weekend of 4 July.

In the summer, the World War II Museum is the perfect destination in New Orleans for those who want to learn more about American history.

But if your visit falls on the 4th of July (America's Independence Day), you'll also have the option of attending the museum's special Fourth of July activities for free.

From hearing America's most popular patriotic songs performed by the official New Orleans concert band to outdoor commemorative lectures, there are several surprises in store for you on this day of national rejoicing at the museum.

A tour of the museum's permanent exhibitions

On the 4th of July, the Museum also offers discounted admission to its four permanent exhibitions ('Arsenal of Democracy', 'Infamy: Remembering Pearl Harbor', 'Road to Tokyo', and 'Road to Berlin'), which tell the story of America's involvement in World War II from different perspectives.

The tour of the exhibits can take between two and three hours, depending on how much information you stop to read. The good thing is that the museum's indoor facilities are air-conditioned, so once inside you won't have to worry about the summer heat.

Details of interest

• Price: around €28
• Venue: 945 Magazine St.
• Date: around the 4th of July.

If your summer holiday in New Orleans is at the end of July, you'll have the opportunity to attend the Tales of the Cocktail festival, the event that honours the best in the global cocktail industry.

At this annual festival, you'll be able to sample a wide variety of original cocktails. You can purchase your ticket for this event here.

But the Tales of the Cocktail experience goes beyond just drinking. Throughout the festival, there are also several informative lectures on the history of various famous cocktails, the methods of preparation of the most popular cocktails of the moment, and the bars that prepare them.

Interesting details

• Price: the wristband to enter the event is available from 170 euros.

• Tickets: you can buy your bracelet directly from the festival's website.

• Venue: traditionally this festival is held in the French Quarter (at the Hotel Monteleone). But I recommend you check the festival website to be sure of the location of the event.

• Date: end of July.

Held every year during the first weekend in August, Whitney White Linen Night is one of the New Orleans cultural attractions you won't want to miss.

For this event, attendees, dressed in white (the ideal colour to alleviate the summer heat), gather on Julia Street, stroll through the city' s main art galleries and enjoy a night of outdoor concerts and food tasting.

During this night you can participate in different artistic performances, ranging from urban theatre performances to the creation of collective murals, in which each visitor can pick up a paintbrush to leave their personal mark.

All of this is set in a party atmosphere with the city's most popular musical talents.

For this event, several of New Orleans' top restaurants also set up their street food stalls, offering free tastings and sales of delicious local dishes and beverages.

This is an option not to be missed for those interested in taking the best food tours in New Orleans.

Interesting details

• Price: free to the public but some special concerts may require admission.

• Venue: Warehouse District of New Orleans.

• Date: First weekend in August.

One of the most attractive tourist options in New Orleans during the summer, and one you'll want to check out if you're a jazz lover, is the Satchmo Summerfest.

This is a festival held every year at the beginning of August to commemorate the musical legacy of the legendary trumpeter Louis 'Satchmo' Armstrong. Adult tickets are available from 7 euros, while children under 12 get in free.

The programme of this event includes everything from open-air concerts to commemorative lectures, which are held inside the New Orleans Jazz Museum (the festival's headquarters).

During the two-day Satchmo Summerfest you can enjoy classical jazz bands, contemporary jazz, and jazz fusion, among other subgenres.

In addition, one of the stages is dedicated exclusively to children who want to improvise or play a song. This is a great option for those looking for things to do in New Orleans with kids.

In addition to the music, another attraction of this festival is the food. Those who come to Satchmo Summerfest will be able to indulge their palate with some traditional dishes from the city, such as crawfish crawfish pie, shrimp in remoulade sauce, and chicken in sweet sauce, among others.

Details of interest

• Price: Tickets are available from 7 euros.

• Tickets: can be purchased directly from the festival's website.

• Venue: The venue for the event is in and around the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

• Date: Held on the weekend coinciding with or following 4 August (Louis Armstrong's birthday).

The unlikely combination of booze, red dresses and a race is what makes the Red Dress Run one of New Orleans' most popular summer events.

Sponsored by the Hash House Harriers, an organisation that bills itself as "a club for problem drinkers with a racing problem", this colourful competition is held on the second Saturday of every August. To register for the race costs just over 60 euros.

To take part in this race you need to be at least 21 years old, wear a red dress (men too!), and have a glass for your drink.

The race route, which covers almost 5 kilometres, starts in Crescent Park and then heads into the French Quarter of New Orleans. Along the route you'll find multiple beer vendors to quench your thirst. If you qualify for the Red Dress Run, you can register here.

The event starts in the morning and finishes in the afternoon, so you'll be glad to know that there are food stands at various points along the route waiting for runners or spectators who want to take a lunch break.

Another interesting fact is that all the money raised by the creators of the race is donated to New Orleans charities.

Details of interest

• Price: From 60 euros.

• Tickets: can be purchased on the event website.

• Place: The race starts at the entrance to Cescent Park.

• Date: Held on the second Saturday of every August.

The weather in New Orleans during the summer is perfect for a cruise on the Mississippi River on a traditional paddlewheel steamboat. All members of the family can participate in this two-hour river tour. Tickets are available from 37 euros.

In addition to seeing New Orleans from the river, these cruises offer other attractions, such as lunch or dinner on the waters of the Mississippi, savouring some of the city's typical dishes and cocktails.

During these tours you can also enjoy jazz concerts or a steam piano (better known as a calliope ).

During the summer, most tourists tour the interior of New Orleans, while the attractions on the outskirts of the city are less crowded.

So if you want to visit a crowd-free attraction at this time of year, one of the best options is to visit the Houmas House Plantation, a plantation less than an hour's drive from New Orleans.

It's a sugar complex, which includes a French-style mansion, gardens, 4 hectares of land for growing sugar cane and more than three sugar refining mills. Tickets for this impressive historical tour are available from 27 euros.

This historical tour is designed to entertain all members of the family. During your tour, your guide will take you inside the mansion, where a collection of everyday objects as well as some rare 18th century relics await you, all in excellent condition.

You'll also tour the property's elegant gardens, which are the natural jewel of the plantation and an ideal space for photo opportunities.

An interesting detail is that some of the staff at Houma House Plantation are dressed in pre-Civil War clothing. This helps tourists get a better idea of what life was like inside the plantation during the early decades of the 19th century.

In New Orleans, there's no better place to cool off from the summer heat than Cool Zoo, the water park for young and old located next to the Audubun Zoo.

Tickets start from 23 euros and can be purchased directly from the park's website.

Inside Cool Zoo you'll find a water slide in the shape of a giant white crocodile (with a water cannon shooting out of its mouth), swimming pools (some dedicated exclusively to children), and a man-made river, whose slow-moving watercourse is an excellent option for visitors who want a moment of calm.

Those who want even more peace and quiet can book one of the cabins located on the Cool Zoo's artificial beaches, another of the park's magical attractions.

The Cool Zoo also has a restaurant and a candy shop, where you can go to satisfy your hunger when it's time to eat.

Summer in New Orleans is the hottest time of the year, with an average high of 32.6°C (90°F) and an average low of 23.6°C (73°F). This means that if you're travelling to New Orleans at this time of year you should make sure you stay well hydrated during your stay.

Due to the high temperatures, summer in New Orleans is considered part of the city' s off-season. For this reason, if you want to see New Orleans at a leisurely pace and free from the crowds, summer may be the ideal time to do so.

One thing you shouldn't forget, if you want to visit New Orleans this summer, is that the high temperatures can get you hot, especially if you're coming from a much cooler climate.

Having said that, the three essential items to bring with you when visiting New Orleans in the summer are sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat or cap to protect your head.