Southern Decadence, the annual festival of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender lifestyle, appears for the 45th time in the sultry French Quarter from Sept. 1 to 5, with a float parade, block party and walking parade.
Jeffrey Palmquist, one of the 2016 Decadence festival grand marshals, points out that though there are private events and venues that may charge admission, official Southern Decadence events are free.
The late summer festival is a boon to the city’s economy, Palmquist pointed out. Decadence 2015 brought approximately 180,000 visitors to New Orleans over the sauna-like Labor Day weekend, he said. And this year’s attendance is expected to increase, perhaps to the 200,000 mark.