New Orleans is set to embrace an evening of catharsis and gratitude with the upcoming Spirit of Louisiana Jazz Funeral and Second Line on Saturday, May 25 at 4 p.m. Held at the New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds, this event will celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage with performances by the Young Men Olympian Junior Benevolent Association, Big Chief Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias and the TBC Brass Band.

The jazz funeral will be presented in memory of those lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing an opportunity for grieving individuals to honor their loved ones. Participants are invited to walk in the procession, bringing mementos or wearing memorial t-shirts to pay tribute.

Following the jazz funeral, the second line will honor pandemic and disaster recovery workers, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel and many others who have made significant contributions during these challenging times.

The event, starting at 4 p.m. at the Reunion Shelter located at 4 Friedrichs Avenue, will feature a procession along a one-mile walking trail around the Festival Grounds, concluding at approximately 5:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend as a show of gratitude and solidarity, with the option to join the procession if desired.

For more information about the event, visit kreweofblackandgold.com.