10 Things to Do in New Orleans in May

May is one of the months when most people choose to visit New Orleans and this is due to two factors: the large number of events and festivities to enjoy and the great weather.

While New Orleans has plenty to see and do all year round, May is the perfect month to enjoy the great outdoors, as the daytime heat is not too oppressive and the evenings are perfect for dining out.

While Jam Out Wednesdays are held throughout the spring, the month of May is the best time to enjoy this event.

Additionally, these types of shows are the perfect opportunity to get a taste of the musical heritage that New Orleans has to offer. New Orleans was not only the birthplace of jazz and rhythm and blues, it is also known worldwide for its musical diversity.

Wednesday Jam Out's can be the ideal opportunity to experience this rich cultural sound while enjoying a refreshing ice cone. These events tend to draw large crowds due to their wide variety of music: Soul, Funk, Rock, Latin, Jazz and Rock.

The opening acts are usually the city's Marching Bands, so you'll find yourself dancing to the beat of the drums at the first clap of the drum.

I recommend you bring a blanket or folding chair and find the perfect spot in this beautiful tree-lined park. If you're up for it, the front of the stage is reserved for dancing only.

This event is sponsored by the Young Leadership Council of New Orleans and is free of charge. If you get hungry, note that the square will be surrounded by food trucks so you can sample local food between songs.

Every Wednesday you can find a different artist, in case you like the experience and want to repeat.

Useful facts

• Where Lafayette Square, New Orleans
• When Every Wednesday
• Hours 5pm to 7pm

If you're planning a food tour of New Orleans or are interested in participating in the search for the best restaurant in the city, this is an ideal option.

The Food Fight is organised every year in May to vote for the best dishes and cocktails in the city.

During the event you can vote for the best chef or the best bartender in 5 different categories: Best traditional, vegetarian and creative dishes. Cocktails will be divided into 2 classes: Classic and Creative.

Attending this event will save you a lot of time when going out to eat. In one evening you will be able to sample the best dining options New Orleans has to offer.

Plus, the competitive atmosphere will be the best way to bring out your palate, so I recommend you come with an appetite.

And by attending, you'll not only be helping to select the best restaurants and chefs in town: All proceeds from the event will be donated to the PLEASE education foundation, which aims to break income inequality in NOLA.

The Bayou Boogaloo is a music, art and food festival held in the last weeks of May since 2010. The festival is held on the shores of St John's Bayou, a bayou located within the City of New Orleans.

In fact, the location of St John's Bayou is what makes this festival so special. People flock to the festival to enjoy the music and dancing from the water. Small boats, kayaks, canoes and inflatable boats are often rented for this purpose.

The festival has several stages where you can enjoy rock, pop and country bands from the local scene. You can also find tents to buy crafts, souvenirs, traditional food and refreshing drinks.

The festival also features fun activities and tournaments such as paddle boat races and bike rides. Bayou Boogaloo has a philosophy of organising the event with as little environmental impact as possible. An example of this is that the organisation offers cash for recyclables collected during the festival.

I recommend that you attend the festival by bike, as in addition to the minimal environmental impact you will enjoy a beautiful ride.

This is because it is located very close to the centre of the French Quarter, one of the most important tourist attractions in New Orleans. Staying nearby can be a great opportunity to enjoy the best tours of the French Quarter.

Memorial Day is a very important date in the culture of the United States, as it honours the memory of the men and women who lost their lives fighting for their country. In New Orleans you can find a variety of activities to honour the memory of these brave soldiers.

On this occasion, you can pay tribute to the troops by visiting the National World War II Museum.

The museum has many modern, interactive and educational exhibits for the whole family, so don't be surprised if you spend the whole day on this tour. It is 5 minutes from the French Quarter and the city centre.

Useful facts

Museum Address: 945 Magazine Street, New OrleansMuseum Hours: 9 am to 5 pmPrice: Children under 12, students, military spouses pay approximately $20, while adults pay approximately $32:

Going to the zoo is always an attractive plan to meet native animals or to see species that may be in danger of extinction while they are being cared for by professionals. But in May, the New Orleans Audubon Zoo offers a different kind of event.

The "Zoo-To-Do" Party is organised by the Audubon Nature Institute on the first Friday in May. This event allows the institute to raise funds that will help the conservation of animals and insects at the zoo.

The event includes a music festival, silent auction, signature cocktails, food from 70 different restaurants in the city and a car raffle.

The New Orleans Zoo is located on Magazine Avenue on the banks of the Mississippi River. I recommend you wear your best dress or your favourite suit, as this is usually a black tie event.

While a trip to the zoo is one of the best plans if you've been to New Orleans with children, this event is for adults only.

Useful facts

• Where 6500 Magazine St., New Orleans
• When First weekend in May
• Hours From 20:00 (adults only)

Cinco de Mayo celebrations are very important for Latino communities throughout the United States and New Orleans is no exception. This holiday, although originating from the victory at the Battle of Puebla, is now considered Latino Pride Day.

And what better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with Mexican food? The advantage of visiting New Orleans on this date is that you can join in the festivities of the Latino community by going out for some delicious tacos and margaritas.

You can see the full list of places to eat outdoors by clicking here. If you're outside the city, you can visit Laketown, where the Hispanic Celebration takes place. It's a free event featuring live Mexican-style bands, dancers and arts and crafts. In the evening you can buy drinks and typical food.

The event is designed for families and at the end of the event the kids can hit some piñatas for a fun closing night.

If you prefer something for adults, I recommend the Velvet Cactus Fiesta, organised by the Velvet Cactus Mexican Restaurant. It usually starts at 5pm and features live bands, DJs as well as traditional Mexican food and a variety of drinks.

Finally, you can stop by the Fiesta de la Cuadra at Los Jefes Grill, a classic Mexican steakhouse. Here you can eat tacos al pastor while you drink and dance to the rhythm of mariachis.

If you're up for it, save room in your stomach, as you can compete in their classic taco eating contest. The biggest eater wins!

May is also the month to celebrate and commemorate the heritage of Asian Pacific cultures on American soil. Here are some tips on how to celebrate the richness of Asian culture in New Orleans.

During this month you can find great promotions, parties and special evenings at the wide variety of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and Thai restaurants.

Due to its proximity to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans is known worldwide for having a wide variety of ingredients that come from the river and the sea.

Because of this, the best Asian and Pacific Rim cuisines have found ways to fuse their centuries-old recipes and adapt them to the American palate.

This month is a perfect opportunity to sample the best dishes from Asian chefs and the city has a wide variety of places to visit.

You can see the full list of local Asian restaurants by clicking on the following link.

If you like outdoor team sports, May is the best time to visit New Orleans. The weather in May is ideal for cheering and partying, with no cloudy or rainy days.

Thanks to this, if you like rugby, at the end of May New Orleans hosts the RugbySeven College Championship. The event usually takes place on the last weekend in May, starting on Friday and ending on Sunday.

If you feel that 3 days of rugby is too much for you, I recommend that you book that Sunday to be able to watch the grand final.

Rugby 7s has almost the same rules as conventional rugby, but the number of participants per team is reduced from 15 to 7. This makes the game much more intense, strategic and exciting.

This event has been running since 2010 and has more and more participants. More than 100 teams, men's and women's university rugby 7-a-side. You will be able to witness how during 3 days, they are looking for the title and the honour of national university champion.

In addition to the matches, at the event you will find live bands, foodtrucks and activities for the whole family. Finally, the most important games are played at the Shrine On Airline Stadium, with a capacity of 10,000 spectators.

Useful facts

• When: Last weekend in May
• Where: Shrine On Airline, 6000 Airline Dr, Metairie (New Orleans)
• Price: Depends on whether you want to come for one day or more.

On the same weekend as Memorial Day, the New Orleans Greek Culture Festival takes place. You can dance and sing Greek music to the rhythm of the bouzouki while enjoying excellent Mediterranean cuisine.

If you're interested in a festival full of music, drinks and dancing, you should head to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, located at 1200 Robert Lee Boulevard.

Here you can enjoy traditional Greek food such as spanakopita (spinach pie), souvlaki, baklava, delicious dolmas (stuffed vine leaves) and gyro sandwiches.

You can also watch traditional Hellenic dancers in colourful costumes dancing to traditional Greek music. The good atmosphere of the festival encourages everyone to dance.

The place also has a beautiful green space by the river, so you can bring a blanket to take a break from dancing or to have a picnic. There are also canoes for hire on the river, a beautiful activity that I recommend you try with your family.

The festival is also a unique opportunity to admire the Cathedral, which belongs to the oldest Greek Orthodox congregation in the United States. It was opened in 1866 and has unique architecture, a Byzantine dome and is surrounded by 19th century frescoes and stained glass windows.

Although the festival kicks off in late April, it always spans the first few days of May due to the sheer number and variety of artists on offer. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival began in 1970, as the name suggests, to celebrate the heritage of Jazz.

But this quickly changed and it became a much bigger festival with international renown. No longer just celebrating the cultural heritage of jazz, it has come to concentrate bands and artists from all genres of music. People from all over decide to gather in New Orleans and celebrate at one of the best festivals on the planet.

The festival features more than 15 stages, activities and games for all ages and a wide variety of food and drink. Although it's not yet summer, it tends to get a little hot in the afternoon, so bring cool, comfortable clothes, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat.

May weather is one of the best times to visit the city. If you like warm and hot weather, you'll enjoy the daytime temperatures, which are quite hot and humid.

In the evenings you'll have the best weather to enjoy the city, so I recommend you look for places to dine outdoors or plan outings to start at sunset. You can also read this article on the best things to do in New Orleans at night.