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Coming August 30, 2025: the Spirit of Louisiana Hurricane Katrina 20th Year Commemoration, presented by the Krewe of Black & Gold and Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition in partnership with the City of Slidell.While our hearts go out to the many people would rather forget that Katrina happened--especially those who lost so everything--we also believe that an entire generation of young people plus families who moved to the area should be provided an opportunity to learn more about the event that forever changed our lives. The 20th Anniversary marks a milestone of resilience and rebirth.
The commemorative event will begin with a Community Gathering at 4 pm in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium featuring elected officials and special guests.
This will be followed by the Spirit of Louisiana Second Line led by the Storyville Stompers. The procession will begin at the Slidell Municipal Auditorium/City Hall and parade around Municipal Square block. The event will honor the many selfless individuals who have been part of the recovery and rebuilding. This includes city, parish, state and national government employees, elected officials, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, utility linemen, waste management teams, faith-based and community service organizations and volunteers, the hospitality industry and the media who worked around the clock to keep us informed. It’s an opportunity for the public to come out and show gratitude for these individuals’ and organizations’ service.
The second line is free and open to the public, and the community is welcome to join in the procession or cheer from the sidelines for the honorees.
Following the procession is a 6 pm concert featuring The Bucktown All-Stars, which was the first band to perform in the city's Bayou Jam Concert Series after Hurricane Katrina, providing citizens a few hours to step away from the cleanup and reconnect with family and friends for catharsis through music. Special guest appearance by Vince Vance.
The concert will be held in the Slidell Municipal Auditorium, which was the last of the municipal structures to be rebuilt following the original auditorium’s post-Katrina demolition. Due to limited seating capacity in the auditorium, preregistration for free tickets will be required. (More details to come soon.) Ticketed individuals will receive priority admission until 15 minutes prior to showtime, at which time doors will open to the public for remaining seating if available.
This event is supported by a grant from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation’s Community Partnership Grant program and a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, as administered by St. Tammany Parish Commission on Cultural Affairs. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment of the Arts.
We are grateful for the Spirit of Louisiana title sponsor, Visit the Northshore/St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission, and additional sponsors Sophisticated Woman Magazine, Edge of the Lake Magazine, Where Y'at Magazine and Lowry-Dunham, Case and Vivien Insurance.
We're looking forward to unveiling the Spirit of Louisiana Katrina 20th Commemorative poster by the fabulous Adam Sambola in the near future.
This event will also be funded in part by Krewe of Black & Gold memberships. Memberships are available for a one-time donation of $25 (Founders) or $50 (VIP Founders.) Please note membership is not a requirement to participate in the commemorative events. For more information, visit https://KrewefBlackAndGold.com.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Olde Towne Slidell, 227 Cousin St, Slidell, LA 70458-3635, United States
