Southern Decadence 2019
New Orleans

Official Website and Guide

Thursday, August 29
through
Monday, September 2, 2019

  last update
  October 15, 2018

 



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  Southern Decadence started forty-eight years ago as a simple going-away party. As a top gay Labor Day Weekend destination, it has evolved into one of our world's major annual events.  It is one of the largest annual celebrations and festivals in New Orleans, and has become known as the "Gay Mardi Gras."  People begin to arrive on the Wednesday before Labor Day, and generally don't even think about stopping or going home until the following Tuesday.

Attendance in 2018 broke all records, with over 250,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender participants, and an economic impact estimated to be in excess of $275 million.
Southern Decadence is one of the top five annual events in the
City of New Orleans, along with Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Essence Festival,
and French Quarter Festival.  As Liberace once said,
 "Too much of a good thing is wonderful."

New Orleans' wildest neighborhood gets even crazier as the French Quarter is packed for the entire event; however, the big day is Sunday. That's when the Grand Marshals lead the annual walking parade through the streets beginning at 2 p.m.
The theme for 2018 was "House of Bourbon - Unleash Your Beast",
and the official colors were Royal Blue and Canary Yellow,
as announced at the Grand Marshals' Press Party
at The Bourbon Pub / Parade.


The corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets is generally considered to be the epicenter of Gay New Orleans, and even more so during the Southern  Decadence festival weekend.  At that intersection is the largest gay nightclub, The Bourbon Pub video bar and The Parade dance club, which is home to the hottest dancers in town.  And most of the city's main gay attractions are within a few blocks.
 

Most street party activities take place in the immediate area of the French Quarter, and the dance parties are in the clubs. Since the gay bars never close, there is something happening around the clock.

Some of the nation's best DJs work the crowds to a frenzy.
Guest DJs for 2018 included Kidd Madonny (an encore to his amazing performances the past several years) for The After Dark Party on Saturday night.  New York resident and New Orleans native
DJ Max Rodriguez was also on hand, joining VJs Brendan Thompson and Chris Allen
to provide the video entertainment at The Bourbon Pub. 

No wonder the weekend is often referred to as Southern DecaDANCE! 


The Bourbon Street Extravaganza, the FREE outdoor concert at the corner of Bourbon
and St. Ann Streets, returned in 2018 for its fourteenth anniversary show on
Saturday afternoon.  Superstar Deborah Cox return in 2018 for her fourth time to headline the Bourbon Street Extravaganza.  She was joined by the legendary Tony and Grammy Award-winning Jennifer Holliday, and Jeanie Tracy
(the Queen of Southern Decadence, returning for her 14th consecutive year).
The Bourbon Street Extravaganza will return in 2019 for its 15th anniversary.
Complete Bourbon Street Extravaganza information is HERE.

 

PAST AND FUTURE SOUTHERN DECADENCE DATES (always Labor Day Weekend) 2016:  August 31 through September 5 2017:  August 30 through September 4 2018:  August 30 through September 3 2019: August 29 through September 2 2020: September 3 through September 7 2021: September 2 through September 6

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