Hotels by City

JULY 1-4

• MANDEVILLE SEAFOOD FESTIVAL: Fontainebleau State Park, Mandeville. Children’s activities, live music, firecracker fun run, fireworks display, arts and crafts, and lots of seafood dishes. Details, http://www.seafoodfest.com

JULY 2-4

• ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL: New Orleans. Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys headline this festival, which also features performances by De La Soul, LL Cool J, Gladys Knight, Earth, Wind & Fire and others. Go to http://www.essencemusicfestival.com

JULY 4

• STAR-SPANGLED CELEBRATION: downtown Baton Rouge riverfront. Live music, food and events for the kids. Highlights are a fly-over by military aircraft and a mock battle between WWII aircraft and the USS Kidd. Spectacular fireworks show on the Mississippi River at the end of the day (225) 342-1942.
• GO FOURTH ON THE RIVER: Woldenberg Park and Riverfront from the French Market to the Riverwalk, New Orleans. Riverboat rides, music, food, patriotic cake contest, dueling barges’ fireworks extravaganza on the river.

JULY 30-31

• FELICIANA HUMMINGBIRD CELEBRATION: 6 p.m. wine and cheese reception Friday at Rosedown Plantation, St. Francisville, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., two home and garden locations Saturday, St. Francisville. Sponsored by the Feliciana Nature Society. Details, (800) 488-6502.

JULY 2-5

• LOUISIANA SEAFOOD FESTIVAL:   Lakefront Harbor, Mandeville. Seafood and other delicacies from a variety of food booths, New Orleans-style cuisine, live music featuring jazz, rock ’n’ roll, rhythm & blues, arts and crafts, children’s corner, rides and other entertainment. Enjoy four fun-filled days. For details, go to  http://www.seafoodfest.com

July 4

• STAR-SPANGLED CELEBRATION:  Downtown Baton Rouge riverfront. Live music, food and events for the kids attract thousands downtown each year. Highlights are a fly-over by military aircraft and a mock battle between WWII aircraft and the USS Kidd. A spectacular fireworks show lights up the skies over the Mississippi River at the end of the day. (225) 342-1942.

JULY 10 - 12

• Louisiana Catfish Festival:Des Allemands, grounds of St. Gertrude Catholic Church The festival is celebrated in the official Catfish Capital of the Universe. People come for the catfish eating contests, food booths, games, country store, craft booths and carnival rides. Entertainers include Johnny Allen and Tommy McClain, Wayne Foret, Seabrook, Don Rich, Ruff-N-Ready, Tout Les Sir and Rodney Thibodaux. NOT TO MISS: Catfish like your mama used to cook. INFORMATION: Call (985) 758-7542.

JULY 17 -18

• SWAMP POP MUSIC FESTIVAL:Sorrento,Ascension Civic Center on Airline Highway Dance to Louisiana’s distinct music with a rock ‘n’ roll twist. Featured are nationally known Swamp Pop entertainers, Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductees and South Louisiana Music Association award winners. Featured will be Van Broussard, Waylon Thibodeaux, Wayne Toups and ZyDeCajun, Kane Glaze, Wayne Foret and Cliff Nickens. NOT TO MISS: A turn on the dance floor to rocking music. INFORMATION: http://www.swampopmusicfest.com.

JULY 30 - AUGUST 2

• SATCHMO SUMMERFEST:New Orleans, Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave. Help celebrate the life of jazz legend Louis Armstrong with four stages all located within the Old U.S. Mint. Nationally known speakers will explore the world of Armstrong and the impact of jazz on world music. Listen to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band Tribute to John Brunious, Mo’Lasses, New Orleans’ (mostly) Women’s Brass Band, Storyville Stompers Brass Band, Rebirth Brass Band, Vavavoom, Phillip Manuel and Shamarr Allen and the Underdogs. NOT TO MISS: Programs on children’s stage and red beans and rice by New Orleans chefs. INFORMATION: http://www.fqfi.org/satchmosummerfest.

Look for festival updates in each week's Friday FUN section of the
Morning Advocate and Visit Baton Rouge