Labor Day events in New Orleans

The 44th Southern Decadence Walking Parade with the 45th Grand Marshals of Southern Decadence XLV, Countess C. Alice and Will Antill, travels through the French Quarter Sunday, September 1, 2019, during the largest LGBTQ+ event in New Orleans with an estimated 250,000 visitors in 2018 over the Labor Day Weekend. The official colors of this year are polka dots and pinstripes because Grand Marshal Will Antill has color blindness. The theme this is year ‘Fruit Salad: Come Toss A Good Time’ and the theme song is ‘Push Groove’ by Instamatic, a mash-up of Salt N' Pepa's ‘Push It’ vs Dee-Lite's ‘Groove Is In The Heart.’ The event is part of the 48th Decadence celebration. There was no parade the first year in 1972 when it was just a small house party in Treme, and none during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Gustav in 2008, and Hurricane Isaac in 2012. Photo by Matthew Hinton

Labor Day events in New Orleans

Officially say farewell to summer and hello to a long weekend of Labor Day events in the Crescent City.

by Mary Staes | August 31, 2022

The federal holiday that honors and recognizes the American Labor Force movement is also a long weekend filled with things to do in New Orleans. Officially say farewell to summer and hello to a long weekend of Labor Day events in the Crescent City.

Southern Decadence
Sept. 1-5, 2022 | French Quarter

This LGBTQ festival has been a Labor Day tradition in the French Quarter since 1972. Events happen over the span of a week, including an annual parade. For more information, click here.

First Fridays at NOMA
Sept. 2, 2022, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. | New Orleans Museum of Art

Every month the New Orleans Museum of Art opens late night with musical performances, special tours and special pop-ups. Click here for tickets.

First Saturday Gallery Openings
Sept. 3, 2022 | Warehouse District

The Arts District New Orleans will hold its monthly Art Walk on Labor Day weekend, with most galleries open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. for daytime hours and 6-8 p.m. for evening receptions. Some galleries will stay open later. Click here for more information.

Artist and Makers Market
Sept. 3, 2022, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Disco Warehouse

Support small businesses over the long Labor Day weekend and check out the market at Disco Warehouse. Read more about the venue here.

Free Family Sunday at Long Vue
Sept. 4, 2022, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Long Vue House and Gardens

Families are admitted to Long Vue free on the first Sunday of the month. You can bring a picnic basket to enjoy under the oaks, explore the children’s Discovery Garden or roam 8-acres of gardens surrounding the Long Vue grounds. Click here for tickets.

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Mary Staes

Mary Staes is Digital Content Lead for Very Local. She works with our freelancers and crafts content for our social media platforms and website. Before Very Local, she worked with CBS affiliate WWL-TV as a web producer and weekend assignment editor for about 4 years. She has also handled broadcast coverage for 160 Marine Reserve training facilities while she served as an active duty Marine. As a native New Orleanian, she takes being "very local" to heart. She loves being intertwined with the culture and figuring out how there are less than two degrees of separation between us all, whether we're natives or not.