NEWSLETTER

25th Annual Satchmo SummerFest

presented by

New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF)

Watch our recorded press conference kicking off the celebration.

Get ready, New Orleans! Satchmo SummerFest presented by the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) is celebrating its milestone 25th anniversary this weekend, August 2-3, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Our team is excited to produce this landmark event that honors the enduring legacy of New Orleans' musical legend, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. Since its founding in 2001, marking the centennial of Armstrong's birth, the festival has grown into a cherished summer tradition. The festival offers more than two dozen musical performances, eight culinary vendors, and free special events, while waiving the museum's standard admission fee throughout the festival weekend.

Gates are open from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM daily, and the public is invited to enjoy this celebratory weekend, including Saturday's Satchmo Sound-Off with The Roots of Music and Sunday's Jazz Mass at St. Augustine Church, followed by the annual Satchmo Salute Parade through the Tremé and French Quarter.

Satchmo SummerFest celebrates 25 years with over 30 performers that honor Louis Armstrong’s legacy and showcase the evolution of jazz. We're opening the festival on Saturday with the Satchmo Sound-Off, a high-energy kickoff performance by The Roots of Music, the city's premier youth marching band. Then, hear Jelly Joseph debut on the Delta Utilities Stage and James Andrews & the Sons of Satchmo light up the Fidelity Bank Stage. Inside the New Orleans Jazz Museum, enjoy intimate Gallatin Street Records Piano Sessions presented by the New Orleans Jazz Museum. At the Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry, composer Roger Dickerson joins music historian David Kunian for a special conversation on Armstrong’s enduring influence. For the full schedule of events, check out the cubes below or visit satchmosummerfest.org/music.

Flavors in All Forms Take Center Stage

We're once again bringing you festival cuisine that reflects the city's rich and diverse culinary traditions. Eight vendors will serve a variety of local favorites. Enjoy returning offerings including 14 Parishes' Caribbean dishes, Café Dauphine's soul food, Mrs. Wheat's Pies' meat pies, Plum St. Snoballs' icy treats, and Southerns' fried chicken. New to our lineup, you'll find In a Bowl offering smoothie-based delights, and Lillie's Cajun Kitchen featuring Louisiana classics like crawfish étouffée, collard greens, and fried fish.

Keeping it Cool with Indoor Activities

View the exhibition as you make your way to the 3rd floor, where the Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry is located. The stage offers ten insightful presentations by Satchmo scholars and historians from noon to 5:00 PM each day. These presentations provide enriching insights into Armstrong's life and times, as well as those inspired by him.

Sunday Sounds, Soul, and Second Lines

Sunday kicks off at 10:00 AM with the traditional Jazz Mass at St. Augustine Church, followed by the lively Satchmo Salute Parade led by the Treme Brass Band. The second line winds down Esplanade Avenue and ends at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, where the final day of Satchmo SummerFest begins.

Expect vibrant performances from cultural groups like Sha Ka Zulu on Stilts, Treme Million Dollar Baby Dolls, Zulu Steppers, Sudan Social Aid and Pleasure Club, Spirit of the Fi Yi Yi, and multiple brass bands bringing unmatched energy.

Pro tip: wear linen or seersucker to stay cool and stylish in true New Orleans summer tradition.

Official Anniversary Merch and New Take-Home Traditions

Here's something really special we're offering this year: the Junior Zulu of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Inc. is hosting coconut decorating workshops on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4:00 PM. Let your inner artist shine by decorating your own custom Zulu coconut to take home as the perfect memento of your festival experience.

You can also pick up fun souvenirs and takeaways, like our new pins and fans, right on the festival grounds. This year's annual festival lineup t-shirt will also be available. Remember, these purchases keep the festival free.

Expanding Our Festival Wellness and Accessibility

As part of the celebration, we are expanding our commitment to guest wellness and accessibility. New this year is the "Keeping You Well" initiative, a partnership with LCMC Health that enhances on-site medical and wellness services. Licensed healthcare professionals will be stationed throughout the festival grounds to provide first aid, distribute free sunscreen, and share wellness resources to help guests stay safe and comfortable throughout the weekend.

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve accessibility and inclusivity, the team behind the festival, French Quarter Festivals, Inc., is proud to announce the addition of American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at Satchmo SummerFest for the first time. ASL interpretation will take place at the Fidelity Bank Stage on Saturday and the Delta Utilities Stage on Sunday. Email [email protected] for more details.

For a sensory break in a cool and quiet area, the Benny’s Sensory Activation Vehicle, courtesy of the Beignet Fest Foundation, will be used to make our event more inclusive for individuals with sensory processing sensitivities often associated with autism and other conditions. The fully equipped tow-along trailer provides you with a safe space for decompression, offering a pause from the sights and sounds of the day’s events.

Know Before You Go: Cashless Event

As you prepare for your visit, keep in mind: The 2025 Satchmo SummerFest presented by NOTCF is going completely cashless! All our food, beverage, and merchandise booths will take major credit cards and digital payments. If you don’t have access to cashless payment methods, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with an on-site cash exchange station located at the Official Festival Merchandise Booth.

Sponsors and Community Partners

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is proud of its 42-year history of providing high-quality community events accessible to all. The organization relies heavily on the contributions of sponsors and partners, as well as sales of beverages and merchandise, to support the festival. Thank you to our sponsors and community partners!

New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF), New Orleans & Company, Fidelity Bank, Delta Utilities, Friend of Fest, Joseph K. & Inez Eichenbaum Foundation, Omni Royal Orleans, WWL-Louisiana, Entergy New Orleans, The Folgers Coffee Company, The Eugenie and Joseph Jones Family Foundation, LCMC Health, Brown-Forman, Jack Daniels, el Jimador Tequila, Korbel California Champagne, Abita Brewing Company, Pepsi, French Market Corporation, New Orleans Jazz Museum, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, JAX Brewery Parking Lots and The Berger Company, Music Performance Trust Fund and American Federation of Musicians Local 174-496, The Helis Foundation, T-Mobile, Rhodes Funeral Home, LeafFilter, Danny & Alana Wolfe, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Caymus Vineyards, Sea Sun Wines, Conundrum Wine, White Claw Vodka, Luzianne Iced Tea, French Market Coffee, Beignet Fest Foundation with support from New Orleans & Co., Renaissance Publishing, Nola.com, Clarion Herald, WWNO, WBOK, and WGSO

Celebrating Satchmo

Louis Armstrong, also known as “Satchmo” and “Pops,” was born in New Orleans. He sang in choirs as a child and then learned to play cornet at the Colored Waif’s Home for Boys. He moved to Chicago in 1922 to join Joe “King” Oliver’s band. Soon after, he started recording as a bandleader with his own ensembles, the Hot Fives and Hot Sevens. His innovative trumpet playing, singing, and charismatic personality led him to become one of the most influential and beloved musicians in the world. Armstrong continued to perform and record music until his death in 1971.

Satchmo SummerFest was established in 2001 to commemorate the life, legacy, and music of Louis Armstrong on what would have been his 100th birthday. Twenty-five years later, the silver anniversary of the festival marks the 100th anniversary of Armstrong’s first recordings as a bandleader.

More than just a celebration, the festival provides an important boost to New Orleans’ cultural economy during the hot summer months, supporting local musicians, food vendors, and small businesses.