It is time for the fourth year of the exciting event of New Orleans' native son, Louis Armstrong Satchmo Summer Fest. There will be a smorgasbord of lectures, panels, live performances of various musicians and local talent. The date is August 4 – 8 th . And that is the closest weekend to Louie's birthday, August the 4th.

Jazz enthusiast come from over the nation to honor one of jazz greatest! Former business acquaintances, friends, and associates in jazz will be speaking about “their days with Louie.” More than just another music festival, the five-day event is filled with opportunities to learn about, celebrate and take part in both the historic and enduring traditions that fuel jazz music and New Orleans culture. The festival takes place Augugust 5 through August 8, and almost all of its programs are free and open to the public. The Old U.S. Mint (400 Esplanade Avenue, 504-568-6968) is the focal point of much of the festival with its various outdoor music stages. Located near the shops and boutiques of Decatur Street and the French Market, the former mint is now part of the Louisiana state museum system. On display will be such artifacts of jazz as his first bugle, personal letters, and original recordings.

Sunday, August 8, the event moves outside for a special “jazz mass” at St. Augustine church (1210 Gov. Nicholls St., 504-525-5934). Immediately following the music-inspired service, visitors are invited to join a traditional New Orleans second line street parade departing from the church to wind its way through the neighborhood and back to the French Quarter. Based on the jazz funeral tradition, these parades invite anyone to join in - thus forming the “second line” behind the uniquely dressed parade leaders and loud brass bands - and dance in the streets. New Orleans has many “second line” parades each year, but this one is a special event just for Satchmo.

Visitors to Satchmo SummerFest will hear some of the greats of New Orleans Jazz like the Ellis Marsalis Trio, Banu Gibson & the New Orleans Hot Jazz All-Stars, Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, Dr. Michael White's Original Liberty Jazz Band, Jeremy Davenport, Kim Prevost Band featuring Bill Solley, Philip Manuel, the Storyville Stompers Brass Band, the Rebirth Brass Band and many more. All of the performances are free and open to the public. An exciting highlight of the fest is the concert featuring Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra featuring Ellis Marsalis at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts, located in Armstrong Park.

Special foods such as red beans and rice, crawfish cakes, gumbo jambalaya, shrimp fixed every way possible, lots of beer, and other local dishes will be served at the food booths near the mint. New Orleans' fine restaurants also will offer Satchmo SummerFest specials. For a complete schedule of events go to web site SatchmoSummerFest.com. For more information about Satchmo Summerfest, call 1-(800) 673-5725 or (504) 522-5730 or visit: www.fqfi.org.