The 34th annual Southern Decadence festival, which evolved over the years from a party for a few friends to a six-day street party attended by more than 100,000 people, runs this year from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5.
Unofficially dubbed the “gay Mardi Gras,” Southern Decadence is filled with dozens of parties and thousands of uninhibited gay men frolicking in the street in search of beads and brethren. The event culminates with a Sept. 4 parade featuring elaborate and risqué costumes inspired by this year’s 1920s theme, “Jazz & Jezebels.”
Also filling the French Quarter that weekend are hundreds of plus-sized gay men and their admirers for Convergence 2005, an annual event convened by the Affiliated Big Men’s Club, a national coalition of big men’s organizations.
Due to the impact of hurricane Katrina on the new Orleans area the Gay Halloween, Southern Decadence, and Bourbon Pub / Parade websites are temporarily unavailable