This weekend in New Orleans, love is in the air – love for Mardi Gras, that is. Look now, there are plenty of romantic ways to spend Valentine’s Day in our city, but to us, there’s nothing more romantic than arriving to the parade route with an order of Popeye’s chicken and your lover waiting for you. They’ve been staking out your spot for hours now, blasting the good tunes. Even made friends with the neighbors. Now that’s love. To the weekend!
ALL MONTH
Celebrate Black History Month in New Orleans – This February in New Orleans, take time to visit a multicultural museum, one of New Orleans’ many black-owned restaurants, or go to one of these events in honor of Black History Month.
ALL WEEKEND
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Children and adults alike will enjoy the classic Roald Dahl novel come to life with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Sweet like Valentine’s Day, this show is a treat. Tickets start at $62, and the show runs February 11-16 at the Saenger Theater.
FRIDAY
Valentine’s Day – New Orleans is the perfect place to spend Valentine’s Day, bursting with restaurant specials, live music, and plenty of things to do. There’s Krewe du Kanaval Ball, parades, and more to celebrate however you’d like.
Krewe of Cork – Catch this first parade of the weekend strolling through the French Quarter at 3 p.m. on Friday.
Krewes of Oshun, Alla, Cleopatra – Starting at 6 p.m., the Uptown parade route will come alive with these three krewes.
SATURDAY
Krewes of Pontchartrain, Choctaw, Freret, Sparta, Pygmalion – It’s one after another along the Uptown parade route this Saturday, with the Krewe of Pontchartrain kicking things off at noon.
Shorty Gras – On Saturday, the Krewe of Freret and Trombone Shorty will parade through the streets of New Orleans ending its procession at Mardi Gras World, where it will hold its first annual ‘Shorty Gras’ concert ball. Performers include Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Mannie Fresh, Boyfriend featuring members of The Revivalists, The Soul Rebels, Sweet Crude, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and the Golden Eagles, and appearances from Big Freedia, Juvenile, and more. The party starts at 5 p.m. and tickets start at $50.
SUNDAY
Krewes of Femme Fatale, Carrollton, King Arthur – The first all-female krewe of the season, Femme Fatale, will roll at 11 a.m. with Carrollton and King Arthur to follow in Uptown New Orleans.
The Mystic Krewe of Barkus – Calling all dog-lovers, this parade is for you. Get ready for a parade of pups, all dressed up to the theme “Bark to the Future.” Barkus forms and disbands at Armstrong Park and starts at 2 p.m.
LAGNIAPPE
Galentine’s Day – Celebrate Galentine’s Day with your girlfriends on Thursday, Feb. 13 with a night on the town, a spa day, a Mardi Gras Ball featuring Big Freedia, and more.
Oysters 4 the Coast – Oysters 4 the Coast is the kickoff to the Annual New Orleans Oyster Festival held every spring. The event features four beers, four wines, and four types of Oysters all for $44 at Superior Seafood from 5-9 p.m. on Thursday.
LeCrae Speaks at Dillard University – Grammy Award-winning Christian rapper LeCrae stops by Dillard University on Wednesday, Feb. 12. He’ll be speaking on hip hop, sex, gender, and ethical behavior. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Dillard’s Professional Schools Building and is free and open to the public.
