White Linen Night in New Orleans

Herman Mhire a customer of ours is having a showat the Contemporary Art Center in New Orleans. The opening coincided with the white linen night which has become a tradition in New Orleans. It is always held the first Saturday in August. More than 40,000 persons filled the streets and galleries of New Orleans Arts District. It is now 95 degrees in Minnesota and white linen sounds pretty good to us. Herman sent me the following information on the event.

In the years before air conditioning in homes and vehicles, New Orleanians did a number of things to lessen the effects of the summer heat. One of them was wearing white linen clothing. Men wore white suits to reflect, rather than absorb, the sun’s heat, and women wore white dresses for the same reason.

The white linen tradition is revisited every summer in the city’s Warehouse Arts District. Those who get into the spirit of the occasion wear white outfits and some even wear white hats as they leisurely stroll through the art galleries along Julia Street and adjacent side streets.

As you visit the galleries, you can keep cool with complimentary hand-held fans, available at each gallery and at booths along the street. There will also be samplings of New Orleans’ cuisine from local restaurants and cool drinks to sip on as you gallery hop. The outdoor celebration includes stages and live entertainment.