The French Quarter’s “answer” to White Linen Night comes at dusk the following Saturday. Royal Street shuts down to traffic and its galleries, mostly owned by artists, prop open their doors to the public until 9 p.m. Crowds admire their work and interact with the artists while milling around the galleries.

August 14, more than 60 galleries and shops from the 1000 to the 200 blocks of Royal will stay open for Dirty Linen Night. Nine locations will serve Creole cuisine, and the Royal House—D...