2012 Satchmo SummerFest August 3-5

The premiere American Jazz Festival dedicated to the life, legacy, and music of New Orleans' native son, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, will take place August 3 - 5 at the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint. This weekend-long celebration will feature traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, and brass bands comprised of New Orleans' most talented musicians.

Live, Local Music, Free Dance Lessons, and Indoor Family Activities

Satchmo SummerFest 2012 music lineup includes Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue

Swingers,

Preservation Hall-Stars, Yoshio Toyama and the Dixie Saints, Leroy Jones and New

Orleans' Finest, Treme Funktet featuring Corey Henry and Travis Hill, Don

Vappie

& The Creole Jazz Serenaders, Wendell Brunious, The Original Pinnettes Brass

Band,

The New Orleans Moonshiners, and many more.

Between musical sets, dancers of all levels can take lessons from New Orleans'

well-known

dance teachers at the Cornet Chop Suey Stage Saturday and Sunday of the

festival.

Swing and Charleston dance lessons are open and free to the public and are

taught

and sponsored by NOLA Jitterbugs.

Throughout the day, children and parents can relax indoors on the second floor

of

the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint with an array of educational,

entertaining

children's activities, "Satchmo on Film" for kids, and exhibits. The "Satchmo

for

Kids'" area features a variety of activities for kids to enjoy including a

Satchmo

collage project, a second-line umbrella creation station, coconut decorating

with

the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club's "Junior Zulus," and the Jazz National

Historic

Park's Junior Rangers program.

While inside, visitors can also enjoy the Louisiana State Museum's

exhibit, "Preservation

Hall at 50." The exhibit is a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of

Preservation

Hall through artifacts, photographs, posters, handbills, flyers, newspaper

articles,

phonograph records, film and audio clips, interviews, and oral histories. In

addition,

items from the museum's jazz collection are on display, including Louis

Armstrong's

first cornet. The exhibit and children's area are free and open to the public

during

the festival weekend.

Satchmo SummerFest hosts diverse and exciting offerings from great New Orleans

restaurants

and welcomes new additions to the festival menu options. This year, the festival

introduces Lakeside Harbor and Mona's CafÈ to Red Bean Alley, and welcomes back

Plum Street SnoBalls and Cool Fruit Sensations and their refreshing fresh

squeezed

juices and teas with the option to add Absolut Vodka or Avion Tequila to any

drink.

The festival also debuts Avion Frozen Margaritas, Lipton Green Tea, and Gatorade

at the beverage booths.

Special Events

In addition to a weekend full of great music, food, seminars, movies, and

children's

activities, Satchmo SummerFest features an array of special events including the

annual Jazz Mass at the historic St. Augustine Church in Treme, a traditional

second

line parade, and the annual 'Trumpet Tribute' which closes the festival Sunday

night

with a Satchmo birthday party.