WWOZ posts the second-line schedule every Thursday on their website. Social aid and pleasure clubs throw these parades most Sundays from late August through early June. The radio station tracks routes, start times, and which clubs are parading. Check wwoz.org before Sunday morning because schedules change.
Second lines aren’t performances. They’re community events where social aid and pleasure clubs celebrate anniversaries, honor members, or mark occasions. The club members parade in matching outfits behind a brass band. Everyone else following the band is the second line. You’re welcome to join, but there are unwritten rules about how to participate without being disrespectful.
Don’t stand on the sidelines taking photos the entire time. If you’re going to follow a second line, actually follow it. Walk with the crowd, move when they move, dance if you want to dance. The point is participation, not observation. Put your phone away for most of it. Taking a few photos is fine. Recording the entire parade from the sidewalk while blocking people is not.
Wear comfortable shoes. Second lines can cover two to three miles and last three to four hours. They move at a walking pace but rarely stop. The route winds through neighborhoods, not tourist areas. You’ll be on your feet the whole time on pavement and sometimes uneven sidewalks.
Bring water and cash. Some second lines pass corner stores where you can buy drinks. Others don’t. The neighborhoods hosting these parades are residential. People live there. Don’t treat the event like a street festival where you can wander into yards or block driveways. Stay with the parade route.
The traditional second-line route starts at a club’s meeting spot, moves through the neighborhood where members live, and ends at a bar or venue for an after-party. Routes change based on which club is parading and what they’re celebrating. WWOZ posts approximate routes but they’re not exact. Clubs adjust based on crowd size, weather, or spontaneous decisions by the grand marshal leading the parade.
Show up at the starting location 15-30 minutes before the posted start time. Second lines rarely start exactly on time but showing up late means you miss the beginning when the crowd is smaller and it’s easier to understand what’s happening. The atmosphere at the start is different from the middle or end. You see the club members gather, the band warm up, people greeting each other before the parade kicks off.
Respect the club members. They’re easy to identify because they wear matching outfits, sashes, or colors. They paid dues all year to throw this parade. They’re celebrating their club’s history and honoring their community. Don’t push past them to get closer to the band. Don’t interrupt them for photos. Watch how locals interact with club members and follow that lead.
The brass band plays at the front. Behind them are the club members, then the grand marshal with umbrellas and fans, then everyone else. If you want to be in the thick of it, position yourself in the middle of the crowd, not at the very front trying to walk next to the band. That space belongs to club members and people who’ve been following this particular club for years.
Don’t get drunk and stupid. People bring coolers and drinks. Some drinking happens. But this isn’t Bourbon Street. Getting belligerent or sloppy will get you checked by someone in the community. These parades happen in neighborhoods where people raised their kids and buried their parents. Act accordingly.
Pay attention to where you are. Second lines move through areas tourists don’t typically visit. Some neighborhoods are rougher than others. Stay with the crowd. Don’t wander off down side streets. Don’t leave valuables visible in your car if you drove and parked nearby.
When the parade ends, it ends. The club members head to their after-party. The crowd disperses. Don’t follow club members to their private venue unless you were explicitly invited. The public portion of the second line is over.
WWOZ Second Line Schedule: wwoz.org. Updated Thursdays. Late August through early June most Sundays. Routes posted with start times and club names. Bring water, cash, comfortable shoes. Don’t stand on sidelines. Join the parade, walk with the crowd. Respect club members in matching outfits. Stay with the route through residential neighborhoods.
