NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans will mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a series of official events throughout the city, offering opportunities for reflection, remembrance, and community engagement. From film screenings and interfaith services to service projects, panel discussions, and cultural gatherings, the commemorations will honor lives lost while highlighting the city’s ongoing recovery and resilience. Below is a list of scheduled events.
Hurricane Katrina events list
DAILY EVENTS
- Surviving Katrina: The Hope, Healing and Rebirth of New Orleans will show daily Aug. 3 – Nov. 7 at the Tate, Etienne and Prevost Center 5909 St. Claude Ave.
- Weathering the Storm: Reflecting on New Orleans’ Past is on view daily at the New Orleans Main Library 219 Loyola Ave.
- Katrina, Then and Now: A 20-Year Community Commemorative Exhibition on display from August 29 – September 26 at City of Slidell Cultural Center
- Do You Know What It Means: Katrina @ 20 Exhibit on display at the UNO Earl K. Long Library Aug. 29-Dec. 15
SATURDAY, AUG. 23RD
- United Way Day of Action 9am-12pm YEP (12000 Hayne Blvd. New Orleans)
- Mural unveiling from 6:30-7:30pm at the Industrial Canal levee wall (2009 Jourdan Ave. New Orleans)
SUNDAY, AUG. 24TH
- Salvation Army of Greater New Orleans Worship Service 11am – 12pm 4526 S. Claiborne Ave.
- Art Exhibit and screening of Hope in High Water: A People’s Recovery Twenty Years After Hurricane Katrina at Ashé Cultural Arts Center (1712 Oretha Castle Haley) from 5-7pm
MONDAY, AUG. 25TH
- Panel/Session: K20 Housing Report from 12-4pm at Ashe Powerhouse (1731 Baronne Street)
TUESDAY, AUG. 26TH
- Resist and Remembrance: Display of Masking Indian Suits, including Original Wild Tchoupitoulas Tuesday-Friday at Mahlia Jackson Theater (1419 Basin Street)
- Coastal Reflections Panel moderated by WWNO Coastal Desk Reporter Eva Tesfaye from 12-12:30pm at Andre Cailloux Center (2541 Bayou Road)
- K20 Mini Film Festival at the Mahlia Jackson Theater 6:00 PM-12:00AM
- MRGO Community Field Trips from 8:30-10:30am at The Wharf on Bienvenue (6301 Paris Road Chalmette)
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27TH
- Turning the Tide: Weathering Katrina Hear from Times-Picayune journalists who refused to leave New Orleans when the Storm hit, including WWL Louisiana’s Mike Perlstein. Tidewater Building 1440 Canal Street
- Film Screening: Women of the Storm 6 – 8pm at the Prytania Theatre, 5339 Prytania Street, New Orleans
THURSDAY, AUG. 28TH
- The State of New Orleans Culture: 20 Years After Katrina Presented by The Ella Project 5:00–8:00 p.m. New Orleans Jazz Museum 400 Esplanade Ave.
- Film Screening: A Village Called Versailles 9:00 – 10:00 AM 13435 Granville Street, New Orleans
FRIDAY, AUG. 29TH
- Annual Katrina Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony 8:29 – 9:29am at 5056 Canal Street
- Hurricane Katrina Memorial Dedication 9am at Camp Salmen Nature Park in Slidell
- Katrina Memorial Mass and Ceremony 11am at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church 2320 Paris Road, Chalmette
- 20th Annual Katrina March and Second Line 11am – 6pm starting at North Galvez & Jourdan Ave.
- Shell Beach Katrina Memorial 1:00pm 1320 Ycloskey Hwy, St. Bernard
- Waves of Grace: Remembering Katrina at the Orpheum Theater from 7-9pm
- Documentary film, “A Reason to Stay” will play at The Broad Theater from 7-9pm
SATURDAY, AUG. 30TH
- Hurricane Katrina 20th Anniversary Commemorative Summit is a special event taking place at Gallier Hall to remember the impact of Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago from 8:30am-5:30pm
SATURDAY, SEPT. 6TH
- Post-Katrina: Experiences Within the City After Katrina 11am – 1pm at New Orleans Main Library
Film Series by Film New Orleans (Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy)
- “Katrina Babies” Screening & Talkback
- Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
- Location: Gallier Hall’s Ty Tracy Theater
- Details: Free public screening of Edward Buckles Jr.’s Katrina Babies, followed by a community talkback with culture writer and Katrina Baby Cierra Chenier. Advance registration required. Organized by Film New Orleans, the city’s official film office.
United Way Day of Action: Katrina at 20
- Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025 — 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM CDT
- Location: Youth Empowerment Project, New Orleans East
- Details: A free volunteer-led community service event in partnership with United Way SELA and YEP, focusing on outdoor beautification projects to honor resilience and recovery.
Levees.org Events
Organized by Levees.Org, an advocacy organization focused on levee safety and accountability:
- Gala at the Cannery
- Date: August 9, 2025 — 7:00–10:00 PM
- Location: 3803 Toulouse Street, New Orleans
- Details: Gala celebrating volunteers with keynote by Lt. Gen. Russel Honore (ret.)
Guided Levee Breach Tour
- Date: August 23, 2025 — 9:00–10:30 AM
- Location: London Avenue Canal breach site
- Details: Guided tour of the Levee Exhibit Hall and Flooded House Museum led by Levees.Org founder Sandy Rosenthal.
Book Signing by Sandy Rosenthal – Words Whispered in Water
- Dates & Locations:
- August 27, 6:00–8:00 PM at Octavia Books (513 Octavia Street)
- August 30, 12:00–1:00 PM at Melba’s (1525 Elysian Fields Avenue)
- Details: Anniversary edition book reading and signing by Sandy Rosenthal
City of New Orleans – Commemorative Summit
Hurricane Katrina 20th Anniversary Commemorative Summit
- Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025 — 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM CDT
- Location: Gallier Hall (545 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans)
- Details: Full-day in-person summit featuring speakers, panel discussions, and opportunities for community connection. Organized by the City of New Orleans; free tickets available via Eventbrite
Katrina 20 Week of Action (Local Planning Committee)
- Date: August 24–31, 2025
- Details: A coordinated week of over 40 events around New Orleans, including:
- Global Monarch Forum — climate migration discussions (August 25–26 at Mahalia Jackson Theater)
- Community Fortify Clinic — legal and financial aid in Tremé (August 27)
- Katrina 20 Impact Ride — solidarity walk/run/bike symbolizing the storm’s width (solidarity bike ride on August 31)
- Additional film screenings, performances, exhibits, and healing spaces across the city
“Hope in High Water” Documentary Screening
- Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025 — 5:00–7:00 PM
- Location: Ashe Cultural Arts Center (1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans)
- Details: Screening of the documentary Hope in High Water: A People’s Recovery Twenty Years After Hurricane Katrina by Trymaine Lee. Supported through the “Rooted in Us” storytelling initiative
Annual Katrina March & Second Line
- Date: Friday, August 29, 2025 — Begins at 10:20 AM
- Location: North Gálvez Street & Jourdan Avenue, Lower Ninth Ward
- Details: A cultural procession featuring music and march in remembrance, hosting the Big 6 Brass Band. One of the largest annual commemorations in the city
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