Satchmo Summerfest and White Linen Night

One of the best weekends of free offerings is on tap in the Crescent City. First, Saturday and Sunday the Satchmo Summerfest will be held at the Old U. S. Mint off Esplanade Avenue. There will be a number of wonderful traditional jazz acts playing at various stages around the site, which houses the Louisiana Jazz Museum. Nestled at the edge of the Vieux Carre near the French Market, the Old U.S. Mint is a great place to sample food and drink as well as to take in some of the great music that has made New Orleans the mecca for jazz enthusiasts. The nice thing about "Satchmo Fest," as locals may say, is its proximity to the French Quarter and the Faubourg Marigny. One can easily dine at a nearby restaurant for brunch, saunter over to Royal Street and examine antiques, check out the festival and take in some of the sights of Frenchmen Street all in one day and evening. Although the music is free, one must pay for the privilege by buying food and drink from sponsors. But the food is usually very good and, after all, one must eat.
Saturday night it's White Linen Night in the burgeoning arts area in the Downtown District and for those that love art, it's the night to see and be seen. Yes, white linen is encouraged to be worn, but there are no fashion police out there. There's more food and drink to be purchased and lots of free music available on the street for the enjoyment of the patrons of the various art galleries that sponsor the event. It all makes the first weekend in August a very anticipated event each year.