New Orleans is a vibrant, welcoming city for LGBTQ+ travelers year-round, but it truly comes alive during Southern Decadence, one of the largest annual LGBTQ+ street festivals in the country.
Taking place over Labor Day weekend annually, Southern Decadence celebrates the LGBTQ+ community with outrageous costumes, dancing in the streets, lively parades, and legendary parties. Recent attendance has eclipsed 275,000 revelers! If you're looking for an unforgettable travel experience, Decadence delivers.
Fabulous Events
The theme this year is Phoenix Rising, so expect the events to bring the heat!
The parade on Sunday has outrageous floats and booty-shaking moves that will get you primed for the Grand Marshal Parade that snakes through the French Quarter. During the entire fest there are parties galore! Favorites include the Friday night drag show at Golden Lantern (1239 Royal St.), block parties at The Phoenix Bar (941 Elysian Fields Ave.), and never-ending revelry at the heart of the Fruit Loop, Bourbon Pub Parade (810 Bourbon St.), and Oz (800 Bourbon St.). Don’t miss the beer busts, dance extravaganzas, Mr. Louisiana Leather, and naughty underwear contests too! Go to SouthernDecadence.com for the parade route and more event listings.
A tour we think you'll love
LGBT Queer History Tour
Navigating the Festival
Bring your stamina because the party starts Wednesday before Labor Day and doesn’t stop until the following Tuesday. That’s a long time, but with its beginnings in 1972, this festival has had 50+ years of practice! The main events take place in the French Quarter, with festivities centered around Bourbon Street. The big day is Sunday, when the can’t miss Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Parade rolls.
No matter where you are, expect crowds, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a source of hydration. Decadence is best enjoyed by wandering around and discovering the nonstop celebrations unfolding on every corner. No car is needed since the events and hotspots are mere blocks apart! If you have a car and do not park in a clearly marked space or forget to feed the meter, be warned that you will be ticketed, towed, or both.
What to Pack
Decadence is the perfect chance to express yourself, so be bold with your costumes and accessories. The weekend calls for everything from over-the-top drag looks to skimpy shorts and sequin tops. For bonus points and to show you did your homework, try to wear items in the official colors of this year’s theme: Red, Gold, Aqua, Royal Blue, or Black. But don't forget the essentials like sunscreen, electrolyte tablets to stay hydrated, chargers for your devices, and any medications you may need. Comfort items like bandaids for blisters and portable phone chargers can be lifesavers in the crowds.
Where to Shop
Forget your Pride supplies or need something New Orleans-themed to commemorate the occasion? Bourbon Pride has you covered! Their large selection of fun and fantastic New Orleans-themed Prideful t-shirts, hats, gifts, and souvenirs are uniquely Nola and many are made by local artists. The owners are also super helpful and friendly. (909 Bourbon St.)
Where to Stay
Book your stay in or near the French Quarter to be steps away from the action. The 4-star Bourbon Orleans Hotel (717 Orleans St.) puts you right at the epicenter of the festivities for all-out continual party, as does the Hotel St. Pierre (911 Burgundy). The historic Hotel Monteleone (214 Royal St.) is the place for a classic interior with epic rooftop pool parties. Speaking of epic rooftop pools, the N.O.P.S.I. Hotel and Ace Hotel (600 Carondolet) are a short sashay across Canal Street and offer party-worthy pools and other fest events. Wherever you lay your head, you’ll meet fascinating folks from around the world who are in Nola to celebrate.
Traveling Solo
Don’t be shy! New Orleans is legendary for its friendly, welcoming people, and Southern Decadence is no different! It is surely one of the most inclusive gatherings in the world, where everybody talks to and celebrates with everybody. Just be yourself, and conversations will begin naturally with very little effort. In fact, you may arrive solo, but you’ll leave with 50 new best friends from across the country!
Learn A Little Something
Need a break from all the eye candy and revelry? The French Quarter is one of the first gay neighborhoods in the entire country, which makes for a fascinating, heart-wrenching, and celebratory history. Hear how the community has persevered and strengthened on the poignant LQBT Queer History Tour offered by New Orleans Secrets. The group is limited to just 9 people for an intimate experience so book in advance.
If you’d like to stick with eye candy but lace it with general history, plenty of antique stores will tempt you to pay for extra luggage home. Most are found up and down Royal Street, with M.S. Rau being the king of them all. It’s as much of a museum as it is an antique store, with royal jewels, masterwork art originals, Edo Period Samurai Suit of Armor, 19th Century Chinese Snuff Bottle, Evans of Handsworth Skeletal Clocks… you’ll surely find a worthy keepsake of your Decadence adventure. Or at least a gift for that impossible-to-buy-for loved one.