Southern Decadence will be held Friday, August 29-September 1.

Southern Decadence is a street festival / party that began back in 1972 as a going-away party. The event started out very small and initially was just among a group of friends who called themselves “Decadents.” Since the group had so much fun over Labor Day Weekend in 1972, they decided to plan another event for that weekend over the Summer of 1973. Each year, the festival kept growing and blossomed into the event it is today. In simplest terms, modern-day Southern Decadence is a weekend-long festival taking place in and around the French Quarter, that includes drag shows, bar events, pool parties, community events, and much more.

LGBTQ+ bars, restaurants, and other venues from the Lower Garden District to the Bywater will have their own special take on Decadence Weekend. The intersection of St. Ann and Bourbon streets will be high traffic all weekend and they shut down the street for a concert on Saturday afternoon. The Phoenix in the Marigny is a popular spot and hosts a large beer bust/street festival. Also, be sure to check out The Country Club for their drag brunch and pool. The annual parade is typically held on Sunday and winds through French Quarter passing most of the gay bars.

For more information on Southern Decadence, click here.