Southern Decadence 2021
New Orleans

Official Website and Guide

Thursday, September 2
through
Monday, September 6, 2021

  last update
 July 13, 2021

 



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  Southern Decadence started fifty 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 2019 broke all records, with over 275,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender participants, and an economic impact estimated to be in excess of $285 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 2019 was "Fruit Salad: Come Toss A Good Time"
and the official "colors" were polka dots and pinstripes.


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 2019 were Tracy Young, Ivan Mariscal and
Whitney Day.  New York resident and New Orleans native
DJ Max Rodriguez was also on hand, joining resident VJs
Brendan Thompson and Chris Allen to provide the video entertainment
downstairs at The Bourbon Pub / Parade.
DJs for 2021 will be announced soon.

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 on Saturday afternoon, hopes to return in 2021 for its
16th anniversary. 

 

PAST AND FUTURE SOUTHERN DECADENCE DATES (always Labor Day Weekend) 2017:  August 31 through September 4 2018:  August 30 through September 3 2019: August 29 through September 2 2021: September 2 through September 6 2022: September 1 through September 5

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