FESTIVALS
BASTILLE DAY FETE: The celebration of French culture, July 12, 6-10 p.m., at 1519 Jackson Ave. in New Orleans, will include music by Pardon My French with special guest Anna Laura Quinn, a French-inspired costume contest and a silent disco. Tickets are $5 for Alliance Française members, $10 for nonmembers, through July 11; $15 at the door. af-neworleans.org/bastille2024.
FAUBOURG ST. JOHN BASTILLE DAY: The French American Chamber of Commerce, Gulf Coast Chapter, will host the summer block party on July 13, 5-9 p.m., in the 3100 block of Ponce de Leon St. in New Orleans. The event will include live French dance music, an art market and more.
ISLAND STRONG MUSIC FEST: The festival will be held July 18-20 at the Tarpon Rodeo Pavilion, 4500 LA1 in Grand Isle. The three-day event will feature live music, food, craft booths and more. All proceeds go to rebuilding recreational facilities and other projects after Hurricane Ida. House are Thursday 4-11 p.m.; Friday noon-11 p.m.; and Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Entrance Thursday is $10; Friday and Saturday are $15. Weekend bracelets are $30. Children 12 and under are free. www.islandstrongmusicfest.com.
MISS FISHER CON: The three-day convention hosted by the Adventuresses’ Club of the Americas celebrates the 1920s world of Phryne Fisher July 18-20 at the Royal Sonesta New Orleans, 300 Bourbon St. The event includes in-depth sessions, dancing and cosplay. Registration starts at $210. The Friday night masquerade and banquet is an additional $75. www.missfishercon.com.
TOGETHER GERT TOWN COMMUNITY SKATE: United We Skate 504 will host a free day of skating on July 23, 6-8 p.m., at Norwood Thompson Park, 7200 Forshey St. in New Orleans. Free rental skates available for youth. Registration is required via Eventbrite. www.togethergerttown.com.
COMMUNITY
SIP + DIP: ‘80S NIGHT: This event for adults 21 and older features drinks, bites, music and poolside vibes on July 12, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at Audubon Cool Zoo, 6500 Magazine St. in New Orleans. Tickets via Eventbrite are $30; $50 for VIP. Cabanas rentals $50. audubonnatureinstitute.org.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR: Priority Health Care's Pediatric Clinic will host a health fair on July 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 12 Westbank Expressway. Activities include sports physicals, vaccinations, carnival games, refreshments and more. If insured, attendees should bring an insurance card. (504) 509-KIDS (5437).
BLUEY BASH: Celebrate all things Bluey with crafts, games and more for fans of the animated TV series on July 13, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave. in Metairie. www.jplibrary.net.
TWILIGHT CLEAN UP: Lakeview cleanup Krewe will host a summer cleanup at 908 Harrison Ave. in New Orleans on July 10, 7 p.m., followed by free sno-balls for the kids and frozen drinks for the adults.
DIVE INTO DISCOVERY: Pontchartrain Conservancy will host a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) expo at the New Canal Lighthouse, 8001 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, July 25—28. The event will feature activities each day for all ages. Daily activities, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., include driving ROVs and tactile coding to circuitry and underwater cameras. Grade 6-12 activities, 2-3:30 p.m., include buoyancy, programming and hydraulics. Registration required. Admission for daily activities is $10 and includes access to the New Canal Lighthouse Museum. Admission for the four additional 6-12 grade classes is $25 per student. scienceforourcoast.org/events.
CULTURE AND CONCERTS
SUNDAYS @ SIX SERIES: John Calvin Presbyterian Church will host a free summer concert series at 4201 Transcontinental Drive in Metairie. The July 14 concert is vocalist Dody Piper and organist Sam Garnett; July 21 is guitarist David Sigler; July 28 is Crescent City Big Band; and Aug. 4 is Crescent City Sound Chorus. www.johncalvinchurch.org.
BEATLES FEST: The concert features local, regional and national performers and will highlight the 60th anniversary of the “Hard Days Night” film with a live performance of the entire album. “Newspaper Taxi: Beatles Tribute Band” is the house band. The concert is July 13, 8 p.m., at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Drive in Metairie. Tickets start at $30. www.jeffersonpac.com.
STAGE DOOR IDOL: The National WWII Museum will host a singing competition beginning July 9, with the finals Aug. 13. Local celebrity judges will decide the winner, as the finalists are accompanied by the Museum’s Victory Six Swing Band. Preliminary rounds are at July 9, 16, 23 and 30. Tickets are $15; $20 for the finals Aug. 13. Performances start at 6 p.m. at BB’s Stage Door Canteen, 945 Magazine St. in New Orleans. www.nationalww2museum.org.
KRISTIN DIABLE IN CONCERT: The singer-songwriter will be in concert in the grand ballroom of the Historic BK House & Gardens, 1113 Chartres St. in New Orleans, on July 14, 6 p.m. Light refreshments but guests bring beverages of choice, openers and cups. Tickets are $25 for members; $30 nonmembers. www.bkhouse.org.
BOOKS
A NIGHT OF POETRY: Poets Dylan Krieger and Benjamin Morris will read from their works on July 15, 6:30 p.m., at Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St. in New Orleans. An open mic follows. www.bluecypressbooks.com.
STORYTIME: Cole Sheehy will lead a monthly storytime that includes multiple stories followed by activities at Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St. in New Orleans. The first is July 14, 1-2 p.m. www.bluecypressbooks.com.
POETRY READING: Local poets will celebrate the life of Martha McFerren by reading from her poetry July 20, 2 p.m., at the Old Metairie Library, 2350 Metairie Road in Metairie. www.jplibrary.net.
CLASS REUNIONS
REDEMPTORIST CLASS OF 1965: Redemptorist High School of New Orleans' class of 1965 reunion luncheon will be held July 13, 3 p.m., at Quarter View Restaurant, 613 Clearview Parkway in Metairie. (504) 388-2608 or (504) 467-4730.
CLASSES
SAFE SITTER CLASSES: The Junior League of New Orleans will host 10 Safe Sitter classes throughout the summer to teach children in grades 5-8 how to safely stay home alone, help care for younger siblings and prepare for babysitting opportunities. Classes will be held at JLNO headquarters, 4319 Carondelet St. in New Orleans, on July 6, 7, 13, 20, 21, 27, 28 and Aug. 3 and 4. Participation is limited to 32 students per class. Advance registration is required. The cost is $80 per person. www.jlno.org/safesitter.
MEETINGS
LEARNING BEFORE LUNCH: Photographer Gus Bennett will present “Finding and Using Your Personal Inspiration in Pursuit of The Perfect Image” on July 11. This presentation includes examples from his work and how he creates it. The program will be held at UNO’s Homer L. Hitt Alumni Center, 2000 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with coffee and pastry. The presentation begins at 10 a.m. Annual membership is $25, $30 per couple/double, or a $5 donation for an event. www.learningbeforelunch.com.
SUMMER CAMPS
CREATIVE ARTS CAMP: Victory Church will host a summer arts camp July 22-29, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at 5708 Airline Drive in Metairie. The camp for students entering first through fifth grades will offer hands-on training and group lessons for each child. Camp will include a Praise and Worship service each day as well as breakout sessions that offer beginner to intermediate lessons for piano, drums, guitar, bass, vocal, dance and drama. Registration is free via Eventbrite.
MAKING HISTORY: The Historic BK House & Gardens, 1113 Chartres St. in New Orleans, will host a historical arts and crafts camp for students 7-13 in three sessions: June 24-28, July 1-5 and July 15-19. Each camp will feature off-site tours and on-site makers’ spaces. Registration is $275. www.bkhouse.org.
SUMMER DAY CAMP: The Salvation Army of New Orleans will sponsor a camp for children 6-12 years Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., and Open-Gym every Thursday afternoon, 3-5 p.m. running June 1-Aug. 1. The facility is located at 4530 S. Claiborne Ave. in New Orleans. Cost is $25 per child to register with a weekly camp fee of $50 per child. Fee includes lunch and two snacks daily. (504)-309-4347; [email protected].