And, finally, the summer begins on Memorial Day, a US public holiday which falls on the last Monday in May (after which it is socially acceptable to wear white), and ends on Labor Day, the first Monday in September.

BBC: Escape from New York

On August 4, Louis Armstrong's birthday is celebrated with jazz and food (natch) at Satchmo SummerFest, while the Southern Decadence party on Labor Day weekend (preceding the first Monday in September), also known as "Gay Mardi Gras", keeps the entire city partying into the wee hours.

BBC: Celebrate New Orleans, from Mardi Gras to Jazz Fest

In 1884, President Cleveland designated the first Monday in September as Labor Day and an official federal holiday.

FORBES: A National Small Business Owners Day