10 Things to Do in New Orleans in June

It's a huge 75 Fun Things to Do in New Orleans year-round, but particularly in June you'll have the chance to feel the arrival of summer.

It's amonth full of celebrations and this will allow you to get to know the city, its culture and its magic while partying with great music, delicious food and the most fun plans. Here you can celebrate Pride, celebrate the local cuisine and eat the most popular delicacies, enjoy the art, music and non-stop consumption of the city's culture.

June is Gay Pride month and in NOLA you'll have all kinds of events to celebrate all month long. New Orleans is undoubtedly one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the world, making it one of the best destinations to celebrate Pride.

But this celebration is not just limited to the classic parade, you can also take part in a host of other events throughout the month.

The parade runs along Decatur Street through St. Louis Street to Rampart Street to St. Ann Street and ends on Bourbon Street between St. Ann and Dumaine Streets.

Along the way, be prepared to see parade participants, dancing, miniature floats and plenty of rainbow flags.

Plus, you can party on at Black Pride NOLA, a series of events exclusive to the black LGBTQ+ community, and take part in a white party, a pink party and even an awards ceremony.

You'll also have an abundance of food and drink throughout the city to sample, family activities to do and you can even end up on the beach at a big party.

Every June, New Orleans offers an interesting variety of activities to enjoy Father's Day with the family. While each year, the city surprises with a unique Father's Day event, there are typical plans that are not to be missed.

Participate in the race through Audubon Park

A classic for Father's Day in NOLA is the race through Audubon Park. Believe it or not, one of the most popular races takes place in the hot and sticky month of June and is a great way to get some exercise and have fun in one of the city's most famous parks, where you'll find parties, music, food and lots of fun.

Whether you're a runner or not, you're sure to have a great time celebrating Father's Day with this original plan that only New Orleans can offer.

Visit a typical attraction

You can also take advantage of the day to visit some of the typical New Orleans attractions such as the Audubon Zoo or the World War II Museum.

Whichever attraction you choose to spend your Father's Day at, I advise you to book your tickets in advance to secure your spot.

Enjoy the great outdoors

NOLA has a good range of outdoor spaces for you to celebrate this special date, such as parks and green spaces that lend themselves to family fun and are another plan that you will undoubtedly enjoy.

I recommend City Park, which is an excellent option for outdoor plans such as fishing in the marsh, picnicking, experiencing safe play or sports activities.

It isone of the largest parks in the United States and is home to the New Orleans Botanical Garden, the Couturie Forest and Arboretum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Louisiana Children's Museum and the largest grove of mature oak trees in the world.

Where to eat on Father's Day

You can celebrate this special day in one of the restaurants that are open for the occasion, such as Galatoire's, Neyow's Creole Café or Rosedale. I recommend booking in advance, as it tends to be a very busy date.

Every June, a large number of naked bikers arrive in New Orleans from various cities and countries to converge on the French Quarter and take part in this extravagant ride. Get ready, you can be part of it too.

Beyond its undeniable eccentricity, this activity has the noble purpose of demonstrating the beauty of the human body and promoting cycling as an environmentally friendly means of transport.

If you want to participate, but don't feel like getting naked, don't feel obliged! You'll still be able to join in and fit in with the activity's motto. Just make sure you create your own style, honouring your body and your vehicle.

Also, if you don't have a bike, you can opt for other vehicles such as rollers, skateboards or even jogging. But remember that it must be an environmentally friendly means of transport. Finally, this eccentric activity concludes with a party - it's all about fun!

Interesting details

• Venue: French Quarter of New Orleans.
• Admission: The event does not require a ticket.
• Price: Free event.

The beginning of summer each year is accompanied by this famous non-stop eating festival in the traditional Woldenberg Park. There is no better place in the United States than NOLA's French Quarter for this celebration where seafood takes centre stage.

Try seafood in all its forms and enjoy some of the tastiest and most unique dishes. You'll find it fried, in a salad or po-boy and many more delicious oyster-based options from local restaurants.

But this festival isn't just about food, you'll find a variety of cooking demonstrations, arts, crafts, live music and much more entertainment. For your consideration, Oyster Fest is traditionally held in early June.

For a whole week in June you can enjoy the most typical delicacies of New Orleans and take advantage of the varied offer of restaurants participating in Restaurant Week.

You'll have a variety of dining venues throughout the different neighbourhoods to choose from, from lush French Quarter restaurants to more relaxed eateries serving some of the freshest seafood in the Gulf.

History and rich food come together at this event and there's no better opportunity than this to experience the city's vast culinary culture. It really is the best way to get to know the city apart from the food tours of New Orleans.

Here are some of the most traditional and historic places to start planning your Restaurant Week bucket list:

• Commander's Palace in the Garden District is a city landmark and its avant-garde Creole haute cuisine is a reflection of New Orleans. It has won multiple awards for its flavours and is a culinary legend.
• Antoine's: New Orleans' oldest restaurant and synonymous with fine dining. It has an extensive and interesting history and its dishes are among the most traditional and exquisite.
• Muriel's Jackson Square: beyond its gastronomic delicacies, this restaurant preserves the style of what was originally an elegant private house in the heart of the French Quarter. You will fall in love with it!
• Mother's Restaurant: in addition to tasting a delicious baked ham, you will learn about its history dating back to the Second World War. It' s a must during restaurant week and you'll meet locals and visitors alike, veterans, politicians and movie stars.
• Acme: a historic oyster bar that's a must-visit.

All these restaurants and many more will be present at Restaurant Week. What's more, they are all historic New Orleans landmarks, having been around for decades and some are over 100 years old.

As you will see, June is a month of celebration, partying, good food and you will find the most varied and fun plans to do. One of the not-to-be-missed events is the legendary Caribbean Festival.

The early summer heat gets even hotter with this festival that brings together the entire Caribbean community of the area in a series of events that showcase their culture, traditions, food and music.

At the NOLA Caribbean Festival you will find a wide range of multicultural activities to participate in and enjoy such as tournaments, themed parties, carnival parades, tents and food stalls, among others. This celebration originated with the purpose of integrating communities with Caribbean roots from Jamaica, West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago.

I recommend a series of unmissable activities for you to live this celebration to the fullest:

• Food fairs: take the opportunity to try all kinds of vegetarian dishes, Asian food and many food stalls.
• Carnival parade: you will have music and entertainment accompanying this parade. The star of this attraction is Super Nova, the official carnival band, followed by paintball, colourful costumes and dance groups.
• Children's activities: Due to the large influx of children, this festival offers children's activities such as inflatables, arts and crafts, music and painting for the little ones.
• Themed parties: enjoy music, live DJs and typical food for hours absorbing the Caribbean culture.

Interesting details

• Venue: Central City BBQ, 1201 S Rampart St, New Orleans.
• Price: this is a free event.
• Date: During the month of June.

Every June 19 commemorates one of the most important events in American history: the end of slavery. New Orleans offers a variety of activities to celebrate this day, exploring historic sites and learning about the history of the city and the country.

Here are some of the attractions and sites you can visit on this special day.

Congo Square

This park is renowned for having been a meeting place in the 19th century where enslaved and free people of colour gathered. It was also used for markets and celebrations of African culture, especially music.

Nowadays it hosts several festivals. As you walk around this square you will find several historical points that will allow you to learn more about the city's past.

African American Museum of New Orleans

This is the ideal day for you to visit the African American Museum of New Orleans which is located in the traditional Treme neighbourhood that is home to the oldest surviving black community in the United States.

Here you will find a variety of exhibits and get an up-close look at the history and art of New Orleans' African American communities.

Ashé Cultural Arts Center

This centre is very original. At the Ashé Cultural Arts Center, you will meet emerging artists who create and present their work there.

In addition, the centre celebrates and commemorates African diasporic people, places and philosophies and is influenced by local African American artists and theatre groups. Ashé also sponsors and conducts seminars and lectures that address social and artistic issues relevant to the African American community.

New Orleans is such a festive city that every year it even dedicates a celebration to the tomato, just as you read it.

It's a festival held at French Market in the French Quarter and is filled with music, art, food and of course, the best and tastiest tomatoes you'll ever taste.

Without a doubt, if you're in New Orleans in June you can't miss this celebration. It's a great plan, admission is free and you'll have a great time.

Details of interest

• Place: French Market in the French Quarter, New Orleans.
• Price: free, you only have to pay for what you consume.
• Admission: no ticket required.

As you may have noticed, good music is one of the stars of New Orleans and at the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival you'll have the chance to enjoy it to the fullest. And of course, as with any festival, you'll also get to sample some of the finest traditional foods.

With the arrival of the first warm days, you'll find Louis Armstrong Park the perfect combination of lively, good music and the tastiest spicy seafood you'll ever taste.

In addition, you'll find an art market with a variety of exhibits by local artists and a variety of food vendors' stalls. Admission is free, but donations are welcome and fun is guaranteed.

Details of interest

• Venue: Louis Armstrong Park, New Orleans.
• Price: free, you only have to pay for what you consume.
• Admission: no ticket required.

There is no summer in New Orleans without the classic Sno-ball, so characteristic of the city. That's why in June you'll be able to try this delicious and refreshing treat to accompany all your walks and strolls around the city.

It's a snowball made of fluffy shaved ice that is flavoured with sweet syrups and topped or filled with a variety of toppings.

They come in a variety of flavours, colours and sizes and range in price from 2 to 6 dollars.

To end June on a high note, Essence magazine organises this event, which takes place every year on the weekend before the 4th of July.

It's a huge celebration of contemporary music and black culture. So if you're a fan of R&B and hip hop, there's no better time for you to visit New Orleans than this date so you can take part in the incredible Essence Festival.

Details of interest

• Venue: Caesars Superdome, Sugar Bowl Dr., New Orleans.
• Tickets: you can buy them on the official website and prices vary.
• Date: every weekend before the 4th of July.

The beginning of summer makes itself felt in New Orleans during the month of June. Temperatures generally range from 23°C to 32°C, so I recommend starting your day as early as possible so you can make plans that require walking and sightseeing without suffering too much from the heat.

Also be aware that you may encounter some rain, around 10 days throughout the month.

As I mentioned earlier, bear in mind that June is hot, so remember to pack light, light-coloured clothing to help you cope with the heat.

I recommend light, comfortable and breathable clothing for daytime wear, such as T-shirts, shorts, loose-fitting dresses and linen.

If you are planning to go outdoors, it is essential that you wear a hat large enough to cover not only your head, but also to protect your face from the sun, and comfortable shoes that allow you to walk and walk as much as you want without discomfort.

Another must-have in your suitcase is sunscreen and insect repellent.

Despite the heat, I recommend that you pack a light coat, because enclosed places like restaurants and museums often have their air conditioners set at very cold temperatures. It's better to be safe!