10 things I love about New Orleans in August

Aimee Boudreaux MacIver
4 days ago
3 min read

August in New Orleans

August in New Orleans is deep summer, peak warm pudding air—just this morning when I walked out of the apartment at 8:30 a.m., it was already pushing 90 degrees. August also always aches with Katrina scar tissue. But nonetheless, August in New Orleans remains richer and more interesting than August anywhere else. Here are some reasons to love New Orleans even in August.

1. Snowballs

Snowballs are not the New Orleans equivalent of shaved ice or, Lord have mercy, “snocones.” Snowballs are made of ice so fine that it’s almost creamy, with flavors that make summer survival delicious. You’ll never get any ice chunks floating in pools of syrup. Some snowballs stands remain open year-round, but in deep summer the full glorious spectrum is available, from teeny shacks tucked between neighborhoods to legendary icons. You'll likely have to choose from 30-plus flavor options at most snowball stands; I recommend starting with wedding cake or nectar. You can find a host of great snowball stands around the city.

2. Saints training camp public practices

I’m not sure how to accurately convey the depth of my family’s Saints fandom. One grandmother once broke her foot stomping and cheering in the Superdome; the other lived until age 94, and the Saints season schedule was among the last things she remembered. August training camp is brutally hot, but there’s no more powerful fan-team bonding experience. Tickets are free to get close-up views of the team in action. If you hang in until the end of practice, many players will sign autographs and take selfies. We’ve been going every August since our kiddos were toddlers.

3. Coolinary

In other places, they eat to live. In New Orleans, we live to eat. Coolinary is my favorite restaurant promotion of the year—so many amazing options at fantastic prices. I would happily wade through August humidity to dine on Coolinary menus. (P.S. Come back tomorrow for my Coolinary guide.)

4. Low season

August is the low season of New Orleans’ hospitality economy. It’s nice to have the city to yourself for a little while before the perpetual partying of Halloween through Mardi Gras commences. With a big enough snowball, you could even enjoy a walk outside.

5. Museum month

Every day in August, a membership at any participating city museum gives you and a guest free access to all participating museums. This promotion is not only about the free ice-cold AC. New Orleans hosts incredible museums: world-class stars like the National World War II Museum and Louisiana Civil Rights Museum; art masters like Studio Be, the Ogden, and the New Orleans Museum of Art; and quirky gems like the Sazerac House and Pharmacie Museum. More than 30 museums participate, so you could pick a new one every day of the month.

6. High school football jamborees

There’s nothing as nostalgic as Friday night lights. August marks a flurry of high school football jamborees to kick off the season. You’ll always see tons of people you know, and maybe your kids will be teammates or best friends. New Orleans is a major city that lives like a small town.

7. Afternoon storms

Sometimes the humidity swells so much that it breaks into moody afternoon thunderstorms. I love these summer storms with their intense black clouds and crazy patterns—sometimes one block gets rain while the next stays dry; sometimes there’s blue sky wrapped around one dense outburst. Summer storms feel literary.

8. Late golden hours and cotton-candy sunsets

In August, the sun lingers with the most gorgeous, creamy light, then splashes bright pinks and teals across the sky. Maybe it's the sun's way of making up for for roasting you all day?

9. Air-conditioned churches

New Orleans hosts dozens of beautiful and sacred sites that offer rich pilgrimage opportunity. It's hard to walk more than a few blocks in this city without encountering a breathtaking church, historic Catholic site, or a place touched by a saint. But unlike the great cathedrals and shrines of Europe, our churches are blessedly air-conditioned. When it's 100 degrees outside, ducking into a quiet, cool church is a grace all its own.