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New Orleans Labor Day Weekend events and activities, mapped

From free concerts to where to picnic

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After a rainy week in New Orleans, Labor Day weekend is on the horizon. Weather permitting, New Orleans will host several great events across the city and metro area. Most importantly, many of these Labor Day weekend events are free.

If you need to know about traffic and street closures over the Holiday weekend, Curbed NOLA has them listed here.

Whether if you’re looking for a place to kick back or trying to find the find action, here is a map of events and activities you can attend between September 1 and September 4.

Though, the map doesn’t end here:

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Bourbon Street Extravaganza (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.)

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Right in the middle of Southern Decadence, you can attend a free outdoor concert in the French Quarter. A pre-show starts at 5:30 p.m., while headliners perform at 6:30 p.m. For more information about the performers, visit the Southern Decadence’s official website. 

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Freedom Fest (Sunday, 2 p.m.)

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If you’re looking for another free concert, the first-ever Freedom Fest will take place in Kenner at Lake Pontchartrain. The festival celebrates laborers all over the nation with food, live music, and a place to relax. Between 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., organizers will host several activities and entertainment bits, including Horse races, Gymnastic demos, group limbo, and giant Twister.

via http://kennerfreedomfest.com/

Southern Decadence Walking Parade (Sunday, 2 p.m.)

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End your Sunday Afternoon with a Walking parade that starts on Decatur and ends on Bourbon Street. Led by the Grand Marshall, bystanders are allowed to participate. No motor vehicles will be allowed. For a map of the parade route, visit this page. 

The National WWII Museum Inaugural Bookfair

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This Weekend, Gambit reports that the National WWII Museum will host a free book fair that will have several WWII-centered books up for grabs. Some of the selections will be signed by academics. Admission to the museum is not required to attend. The fair spans Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m each day. Entry to the museum’s exhibits still requires regular admission.

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Cool off at Cool Zoo

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This weekend is the last to enjoy this water park at Audubon Zoo. Open until September 4, Labor Day, Admission is $12 and $10 for Audubon members, in addition to the Zoo ticket. The water park will close until next summer.

Admission to The W pools

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Speaking of the last time to use the pool, Labor Day weekend marks the last weekend to use of The W and the Le Méridien pools as a non-guest for the summer. Throughout this weekend, entry to the pools cost $30 (The W) and $15 (Le Méridien).

Photo courtesy of Starwood Hotels

Hang out around Big Lake at City Park

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The Labor Day weekend will also be a great day to kick back at the park. At City Park, take a walk along Big Lake, picnic under the singing oaks, and visit the New Orleans Museum of Art.

City Putt and Storyland will also be open during the Holiday weekend.

Picnic at Bayou St John

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If weather permits, the quiet ambience of Bayou S. John will be a perfect place to hold a small get-together. The Bayou runs through the Bayou St. John Neighborhood to Lake Pontchartrain. The best place to sit and relax is Moss Street between Orleans and Esplanade avenues.

A post shared by Maééyva (@maeyzzlle__nz) on

Bourbon Street Extravaganza (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.)

Right in the middle of Southern Decadence, you can attend a free outdoor concert in the French Quarter. A pre-show starts at 5:30 p.m., while headliners perform at 6:30 p.m. For more information about the performers, visit the Southern Decadence’s official website. 

A post shared by Joel W (@joelofca) on

Freedom Fest (Sunday, 2 p.m.)

If you’re looking for another free concert, the first-ever Freedom Fest will take place in Kenner at Lake Pontchartrain. The festival celebrates laborers all over the nation with food, live music, and a place to relax. Between 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., organizers will host several activities and entertainment bits, including Horse races, Gymnastic demos, group limbo, and giant Twister.

via http://kennerfreedomfest.com/

Southern Decadence Walking Parade (Sunday, 2 p.m.)

End your Sunday Afternoon with a Walking parade that starts on Decatur and ends on Bourbon Street. Led by the Grand Marshall, bystanders are allowed to participate. No motor vehicles will be allowed. For a map of the parade route, visit this page. 

The National WWII Museum Inaugural Bookfair

This Weekend, Gambit reports that the National WWII Museum will host a free book fair that will have several WWII-centered books up for grabs. Some of the selections will be signed by academics. Admission to the museum is not required to attend. The fair spans Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m each day. Entry to the museum’s exhibits still requires regular admission.

A post shared by RōmFree (@romfree) on

Cool off at Cool Zoo

This weekend is the last to enjoy this water park at Audubon Zoo. Open until September 4, Labor Day, Admission is $12 and $10 for Audubon members, in addition to the Zoo ticket. The water park will close until next summer.

Admission to The W pools

Speaking of the last time to use the pool, Labor Day weekend marks the last weekend to use of The W and the Le Méridien pools as a non-guest for the summer. Throughout this weekend, entry to the pools cost $30 (The W) and $15 (Le Méridien).

Photo courtesy of Starwood Hotels

Hang out around Big Lake at City Park

The Labor Day weekend will also be a great day to kick back at the park. At City Park, take a walk along Big Lake, picnic under the singing oaks, and visit the New Orleans Museum of Art.

City Putt and Storyland will also be open during the Holiday weekend.

Picnic at Bayou St John

If weather permits, the quiet ambience of Bayou S. John will be a perfect place to hold a small get-together. The Bayou runs through the Bayou St. John Neighborhood to Lake Pontchartrain. The best place to sit and relax is Moss Street between Orleans and Esplanade avenues.

A post shared by Maééyva (@maeyzzlle__nz) on