Every season in New Orleans brings new excitement. With fall here, the weather is prime for anything outdoors: dining, festivals, rooftop bars – you name it, we’ve got it. We took the liberty to jot down a few things we’re looking forward to this fall, with a little something extra too.
LGBTQ Fall Guide
1. Perfect Weather Activities
New Orleans levees, which are large embankments along the Mississippi River, provide locals and visitors with ample entertainment. Have a picnic at The Fly and then jog or ride your bike along The Mississippi River Trail which begins at Audubon Park and runs 60 miles westwards.
There are tons of rooftop bars that provide spectacular views of the city. A couple of our favorites include Hot Tin (top of the Pontchartrain Hotel) and Monkey Board (top of the Troubadour Hotel) with an amazing 360-degree view of downtown.
This is also the perfect time of year for a walking tour. There are lots to choose from including haunted tours, gay history tours, and architecture tours. For something a little different, take the ferry to Algiers for some incredible views of the French Quarter from across the river.
2. LGBTQ Halloween Weekend
One of the 5 major gay holidays in the city, this year’s “gay Halloween” is from October 25-27. These events raise money for a local HIV/AIDS assisted-living home called Project Lazarus. Expect a fun crowd of locals and visitors from all over the country all dressed up and ready to play. More information about the events and costume theme can be found here. You can find other Halloween-related events here.
3. Voodoo Music + Arts Experience
Music, costumes, rides, art exhibits, and more create the closest thing New Orleans has to Burning Man (sans the dust). Expect to find a fun, mixed crowd of music and culture lovers from all over the world. Outside of the festival, there will be events happening all over the city. Headliners this year include Kendrick Lamar, the Foo Fighters, and the Killers. Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, October 25-27 in City Park
4. Werg the World Tour
Asia O’Hara leads a group of queens on a mission to save the world, as some of Drag Race’s most famous queens take center stage at the Orpheum Theater. Besides Asia, Aquaria, Detox, Monét Exchange, Naomi Smalls, Plastique, Violet Chachki, and Yvie Oddly also make up this unforgettable cast. That’s four drag race winners and other unforgettable competitors on one epic stage. Tickets start at $45, Werg the World Tour, November 7th 8p.m.
5. Cher – Here We Go Again Tour
Snap out of it! The queen herself – Cher – is on the road again with her latest tour. The multi-award winning LGBT icon is coming to New Orleans for one night only on December 13th. Don’t miss out on your chance to hear her sing and dance to some of your favorite hits at the Smoothie King Center. Tickets are on sale here. Cher, Here We Go Again Tour, December 13 at 8p.m.
