Satchmo SummerFest
Located at the Old U.S. Mint, the celebration of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong’s birth August 4, 1901 always means a party. He changed American music for good by his 20s, and by the time he was in his 70s he was revolutionary in the music industry. Turning jazz into the pop music that we know today is no easy feat, and this superstar still brings a huge summer festival to the city. Armstrong always kept his birthplace close to his heart, even after moving to New York City, and this SummerFest is a tribute to one of jazz central’s biggest heroes.
Originally, the SummerFest was designed to celebrate his 100th birthday, but it was so popular that fans demanded it return year after year. Now sponsored by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., it’s evolved into what some call a mini-jazz fest. Three full days of concerts, exhibits, parades and seminars make it a jazz lover’s delight.
Jazz It Up
There’s a jazz mass and plenty of food trucks and vendors on site. Travelers come from all over the world to enjoy the one of a kind New Orleans sound and to pay tribute to a musical legend. All performing musicians are local, and the annual Satchmo Art Contest at Crescent City Brewhouse is always a popular attraction.
Don’t miss the Satchmo Strut on Frenchman Street, and with every nightclub in New Orleans partaking in their own way, it’s a weekend full of fun and thrills. Most activities happen near Jackson Square, and daily admission is just $5.