The Perfect Gentlemen Social Aid and Pleasure Club is inviting the community to join in celebrating the return of the iconic Dew Drop Inn with a special Father’s Day parade. The event will take place on Sunday, June 16, 2024, from 4-6 p.m., and will feature music by The Perfect Gentlemen Brass Band.

The parade will commence at the Dew Drop Inn, located at 2836 Lasalle Street, and will follow a route down Lasalle to Jackson Avenue, then left to Claiborne Avenue. It will continue left on Claiborne to Washington Avenue, then left again to Magnolia Street, and right to Louisiana Avenue, before turning left on Louisiana and returning to Lasalle Street, where it will disband at the Dew Drop Inn.

Travis Lyons, of the Perfect Gentlemen Social Aid and Pleasure Club says it’s fitting that they celebrate the return of the Dew Drop Inn. “Back in the 50s and 60s the Dew Drop Inn was the center of Black entertainment in New Orleans,” said Lyons. “It was the place where many of the greats played and stayed.” He went on to name people like Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and James Brown. Indeed, the Dew Drop Inn hosted a veritable “Who’s Who” of Black entertainers during its heyday. Little Richard even wrote a song, “Dew Drop Inn“.

The Dew Drop Inn’s history dates back to the late 1930s when Frank Painia, a local Black businessman, opened a barbershop on Lasalle Street. Expanding his business to include a bar and hotel, the Dew Drop Inn opened in April 1939 and quickly became a hub for Black entertainers. Although it closed in 1970, the building was designated a historic landmark in 2010. Kenneth Jackson, Painia’s grandson, initiated a campaign in 2015 to restore the Inn, but it was not until 2021 that local real estate developer Curtis Doucette, Jr., with Jackson’s support, secured $7.8 million for the renovation. The Dew Drop Inn reopened on March 1, 2024, now showcasing some of the finest local talent.

Founded in 1991, the Perfect Gentlemen Social Aid and Pleasure Club is dedicated to community service, including efforts to reduce neighborhood violence. Traion Lyons, current president and son of Travis Lyons, leads the organization. As always, the event is open to the public, but Lyons asks participants to leave their arguments and their weapons at home.