The month of May might technically fall in the springtime, but you’ll feel the call of summer from our balconies as a warm breeze floats by, and suddenly – you’re ready for summer festivities!
Lucky for you, New Orleans was built to help you unwind and enjoy her culture, and May is only the beginning of the fun… Because once May is underway, it’s officially festival season!
Whether you envision sitting back and listening to local jazz or enjoying the local cuisine that the city is known for, you’ll find a myriad of reasons to start your summer in the Big Easy.
Bayou Boogaloo
Kicking off May 19th and running through the weekend, Bayou Boogaloo brings a weekend-long experience for all ages and interests along Bayou St. John. With local musicians and food from local vendors, there is plenty to experience throughout the weekend at Bayou Boogaloo.
This is a family-friendly experience with a child-friendly stage as well as an arts and crafts tent with adult-led activities for children of all ages, making it a perfect outing for a family trip.
Each year, locals and tourists alike take advantage of the waterfront festivities, bringing their own kayaks, rafts, canoes, and creative floatation devices to enjoy the sights and sounds while floating down the bayou. Nothing embodies “the Big Easy” quite like relaxing on the water while accompanied by the rhythms of live music.
New Orleans Wine and Food Experience
With delectable cuisine and carefully crafted beverages, the first weekend of June brings the annual New Orleans Wine and Food Experience to life.
Beginning June 7th, local chefs, winemakers, and performers curate menus, events, and shows to showcase the best of what New Orleans has to offer.
With a variety of events throughout the city, every palate and passion will be delighted. The experience boasts wine tastings, drink-making classes, pool parties, specialty brunches, pizza- and pasta-making lessons, and educational classes focusing on cuisine-related topics.
Even more impressive? These classes and events take place at some of the most historic and well-known venues in the city, such as Generations Hall and the Orpheum Theater, allowing you to indulge in not just the flavors of the city but in the history and architecture as well.
New Orleans Pride Weekend
While Pride is celebrated through the entire month of June, the weekend of June 10th is especially jubilant as the beloved PrideFest at Phoenix Bar* and the Pride Parade* each take place this weekend, just steps away from the Lanaux Mansion.
This particular weekend will also include the games, dancing, parties, and a crawfish boil hosted at various establishments throughout the city.
In addition to all of the fun, Pride events also aim to give back to the community through blood drives and building houses through Habitat for Humanity. New Orleans is a city that embodies celebrating who you are and the people who make the city what it is, and Pride only amplifies that feeling by honoring a special community within the city.
French Market Creole Tomato Festival
The celebrations and fun continue the weekend of June 10th at the Creole Tomato Festival, dedicated to the delicious taste of locally-grown tomatoes.
Take a short stroll down Esplanade Avenue from the doors of the Lanaux Mansion to the foot of the French Market to enjoy live music and mouth-watering dishes featuring the creole tomato.
You’ll walk away with memories sweeter than the creole tomatoes you feast on!
Restaurant Week New Orleans
Cap off the month of June with a local favorite: Restaurant Week!
During the week of June 19th, restaurants throughout the city will feature special menus and discounts so that you can taste all the flavors of the city.
Many of New Orleans’ most notable restaurants take part, including Muriel’s Jackson Square*, Tujague’s, and Felix’s Oyster Bar. For the most up-to-date list of this year’s participating restaurants and their special menus, visit the Restaurant Week website.
After the Festivals
Of course, following your exciting days of festing, you’ll need a place to rest your dancing feet. And at the Lanaux Mansion, you’ll be in the height of comfort – with easy accessibility to all New Orleans has to offer.
For one to two guests, we recommend the Wieland Suite, our largest one-bedroom suite fit with everything you will need after a busy day. With vaulted ceilings, a large kitchenette, and access to our main courtyard, you will feel relaxed with every modern comfort you could want including wifi, a smart TV, and air conditioning.
Need more information about all of our deluxe rooms and suites? Looking to host additional guests during festival season?
Visit https://www.thelanauxmansion.com/ or call us at (504) 948-6119 today.
We will be happy to help bring you one step closer to a magnificent stay in the Big Easy!
*Walking distance to the Lanaux Mansion
