FESTIVALS
Hogs For The Cause
UNO Lakefront
Friday, March 29, at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 30, at 11:00 a.m.
hogsforthecause.org
Enjoy delicious BBQ for a good cause. This BBQ festival and competition rounds up 85 of the finest local and regional BBQ chefs to battle for the titles of Whole Hog, Ribs, Pork Butt/Shoulder, Porkpourri, Sauce, Fan Favorite, and Fundraising Champion. Come raise funds for Hogs for the Cause, a charity supporting both local and national children’s hospitals to benefit families fighting pediatric brain cancer. Not to mention, there will be tons of live music by acts like Lost Bayou Ramblers, Dumpstaphunk, Boyfriend, Hot 8 Brass Band and plenty of local beer from Urban South Brewery, Port Orleans Brewing Co. and more. So crack those piggy banks, dig deep, and donate to a good cause.
Jamie Galloway Crawfish Boil
Maple Leaf Bar: 8316 Oak St.
Sunday, March 31: 3 – 7 p.m.
neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/jamiegalloway
Come to the 7th Annual Jamie Galloway Crawfish Boil & Block Party for an afternoon of fresh boiled crawfish and live music, in celebration of the life of musician and chef Jamie Galloway. The event benefits the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic (NOMC), which supplies healthcare to local musicians. In partnership with the Maple Leaf Bar, this block party and fundraiser has brought in over a thousand guests in the past. Come hungry—you won’t want to miss out on the 8,000 pounds of crawfish.
Pinch A Palooza Festival
Deanie’s Seafood: 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie
Sunday, April 7: Noon – 7 p.m.
pinchapalooza.com
With incredible local bands and mouthwatering Louisiana crawfish, the 10th annual Pinch a Palooza Festival is sure to be a good time. Pinch a Palooza is more than a festival, however. There’s an eating contest, crawfish races, fun games and activities, and the world’s only crawfish tic-tac-toe board. Watch as competitive crawfish-pinchers compete for a Deanie’s Seafood crawfish boil for 20 people. Get ready to try a variety of crawfish specialties, like crawfish etouffée and fried crawfish tails, from one of New Orleans’s best: Deanie’s Seafood. There’s something for everyone at the Pinch a Palooza Fest.
ENTERTAINMENT
The Blind
Marigny Opera House: 725 Saint Ferdinand St.
Thursday, April 4 – Sunday, April 7: Times vary
marignyoperahouse.org
Experience Lera Auerbach’s captivating and controversial 12-voice acapella opera The Blind, based on the play by Flemish Symbolist writer Maurice Maeterlinck. Set in a dark, ancient forest, 12 blind patients wait for the return of their priest, who guided them to feel the last rays of sunshine before winter. Tension heightens as they discover the body of the priest, who has died among them. Realizing they are hopeless, the 12 patients pray for salvation. The show is an immersive theater experience, as the audience joins the sensory perceptions of the patients by using blindfolds. The Blind is full of symbolism and fascinating themes that are sure to keep audience members thinking well past the final act.
HOME AND GARDEN
Pontchartrain Home Show
Pontchartrain Center: 4545 Williams Blvd., Kenner
Saturday, March 30 - Sunday, March 31: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
jaaspro.com/portfolio-item/2019-annual-spring-pontchartrain-home-show
Fulfill all of your home-improvement needs under one roof at the 31st Annual Spring Pontchartrain Home Show. Explore the latest in kitchens, bathrooms, windows, beds, furniture, and more. Walk through specially designed gardens, get tips for your outdoor spaces at the “Backyard Paradise,” and let your kids play at the Kids’ Zone. Plus, over 30 Louisiana businesses will be giving out free tastings, samples, and recipes at the Certified Louisiana Food Fest. The event will also feature Cajun cooking demos throughout the show. Bring the entire family to the Pontchartrain Home Show!
The 83rd Annual Spring Fiesta and Historic Home Tours
Various Locations within the French Quarter, Garden District and Uptown
Saturday, March 30, and Sunday, March 31; Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7: Times Vary
springfiestanola.com
Enjoy New Orleans architecture, heritage, and culture in a two-weekend Spring Fiesta beginning Saturday, March 30, and stretching until Sunday, April 7. The cultural extravaganza includes walking tours of the French Quarter and private tours of Uptown and French Quarter homes. Don’t miss the carriage rides and the presentation of the Spring Fiesta Queen. There will also be a luncheon at Antoine’s on Sunday, March 31, as well as the “A Night in Ole New Orleans” Gala on Saturday, April 6.
