Check out these summertime New Orleans events set during July 2011, including the Essence Festival and New Orleans take on the Running of the Bulls.
July 1-3 - Essence Music Festival
The Essence Festival offers music, seminars, and other related events, mostly in and around the Superdome, throughout the Fourth of July 2011 weekend.
List of July 4th Events
Special New Orleans 4th of July events include the big fireworks display and duel on the Mississippi River, "Go 4th on the River", as well as various free concerts.
July 8 - 10 - The Running of the Bulls - San Fermin in Nueva Orleans
Photo courtesy of Nolabulls.com.
San Fermin in Nueva Orleans (that's New Orleans of course) 2011 is all weekend with parties, meals, Hemingway contests, tapas, and more. The highlight is the morning Running with the Bulls event that features our unique RollerBulls. with foam bats. It's a crazy fun run that's free if you dress correctly.
Check out the details about of Bull Run and other events of this Spanish-centric festival.
List of Bastille Day and French Events
There are Bastille celebrations in New Orleans on Bastille Day itself, July 14th, and during the weekends before and after the French holiday.
Events include a formal ceremony, singalong, block party, kids activities, film festival, and more. Check out the schedule and make your plans.
July 20 -24 - Tales of the Cocktail
Everything about cocktails, including lots of tastings. Events focus on history, literary, mixology, and more. The 2011 Tales of the Cocktail events are held in various locations throughout New Orleans. Some of the events, like the spirited dinners, have a price tag, but an amazing number are absolutely free. Last year I tasted absinthe - the real thing which is not legal in the USA - for the first time. But it was not just a mere tasting. There were several absinthe concoctions - new and historical cocktails - for everyone to try. And a lesson on the legal history of the drink.
"Wednesdays on the Point" Summer Concerts
Free mid-week concerts, 7 - 9 pm, starting in late June and continuing til mid-August (except July 6 - There's the July 4th concert instead that week.), are held at the Algiers Point Ferry Landing on the Westbank riverfront. It's a big street party with great music, food, drink, and more.
