Hotels by City

JULY 1-3

ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL: New Orleans. Main stage acts will be Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, Kanye West, Jill Scott, Boyz II Men, Charlie Wilson and Fantasia. http://www.essence.com.

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. http://www.seafoodfest.com.

JULY 4

STAR-SPANGLED CELEBRATION: downtown Baton Rouge riverfront. Live music, food and events for the kids. 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. http://www.go4thontheriver.com.

JULY 29-30

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

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.

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