Things to do in New Orleans: Decadence, mermaids and Katrina tributes

🌈 Southern Decadence is the largest LGBTQ+ festival in New Orleans and has events all weekend. (Schedule)

🎉 Two parades: The New Orleans Mermaid Parade rolls at 6:30pm Saturday along the riverfront. It's $35 to join the krewe, but watching is free. (Details)

• The Decadence parade rolls at 5pm Sunday through the Quarter. (Route)

🦖 Jurassic Quest is at the Pontchartrain Center all weekend. (Tickets)

📆 Coolinary deals and Museum Month discounts end this weekend.

🏈 College football starts this weekend too. (Schedule)

• The Saints start the regular season next weekend at home against the Arizona Cardinals.

Katrina anniversary events

It's also the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, with many events to commemorate the difficult day.

🕯️ The interfaith church service is at 6pm Thursday at the St. Louis Cathedral.

🙏 The annual wreath-laying ceremony is at 8:30am Friday at the New Orleans Katrina Memorial in Mid-City. (Details)

• There's one Friday at Shell Beach too.

🎶 The anniversary march, second-line and healing ceremony start at 11am Friday at North Galvez and Jourdan Avenue. (Details)

🕊️ The national moment of silence is at 11:20am Friday.

🎤 The Orpheum hosts a night of music and remembrance Friday, with Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins and more. (Tickets)

🗣️ The K20 commemorative summit is Saturday at Gallier Hall. It's free and open to the public. It features panel discussions and opportunities to connect with others who were affected. (Schedule)

📆 Katrina exhibits are on display at the New Orleans African American Museum, UNO's Earl K. Long Library, the Historic New Orleans Collection, the TEP Center and the main branch of the New Orleans Public Library.

What's next: See the full K20 schedule.

Go deeper

• Here's where New Orleans evacuees landed
• The story of Louisiana's Katrina rose
• 8 projects geared at making New Orleans more storm-ready