From the macabre to the meaty, the weekend is a mashup of loads of fun things to do, fun stuff to eat and good causes to support. And if that’s not enough, you can also run through the graves (if that’s your thing).
Sooiey! Plenty of palatable porcine products (and other grilled goodies) are up for grabs at HOGS FOR THE CAUSE Saturday and Sunday for the benefit helping families dealing with pediatric brain cancer. More than 90 teams compete in a smorgasbord of categories as attendees enjoy world-class cooking and entertainment on three stages at University of New Orleans’ Lakefront Arena, 6801 Franklin Ave. Tickets start at $50. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Friday and at 11 a.m. Saturday. Get into the grill mood here.
Short but mighty dachshunds will test their speeds at Volksfest, April 4-6 at Deutsches Haus in New Orleans.
The traditional German celebration of spring at Deutsches Haus, VOLKSFEST, will include a maypole, dachshund races, music and a bit of schnapps (and other beverages like German wines) from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Also look for a variety of German dishes like bratwurst, pretzels, doner kebabs with fried fish for Friday. Admission is $5. Check out the fest here! Schnell!
With only a severed finger as remembrance, a heartbroken romantic embarks on a madcap mission to reanimate the love of her life in ‘Dead Lover,’ screening at the Overlook Film Festival.
THE OVERLOOK FILM FESTIVAL isn’t something to be, well, overlooked. Three days of fright-filled films and events come to America’s most haunted city with a total of 56 films (“Cloud,” “Ash” and “Danger Stories: A Word Salad Symphony”) and live events and experiences, from new flicks to classic cinema. Many of the filmmakers will be in attendance with most of the films showing at the Pryantia Theatres Uptown on Prytania Street and at Canal Place. Several live events are also being held in Westin Canal Place. Passes start at $350. overlookfilmfest.com.
Spit-roasted lamb is one of the traditional dishes to be found at the Croatian Fest in Belle Chasse Friday and Saturday.
Head down to Belle Chasse for CROATIAN FEST. The flavors of Croatia combine with local seafood for offerings like grilled calamari, spit-roasted lamb, čevapčići (a type of grilled sausage), desserts, beer and wine, and a local favorite Tako Toddies from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at 220 Croatian Way in Belle Chasse. The Croatian American Society event will also feature music, traditional kolo dance performances, exhibits, cooking demonstrations and kids’ activities. Get into the festival spirit here.
Kids watch as puppets dance in the giant puppet parade at Crescent Park in New Orleans, Wednesday, March 16, 2022. About 15 participants collaborated on 3 giant puppets during a 10 day puppet making workshop with puppet artist Andrew Kim of Thingumajig Theatre. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
With a packed roster of performances, workshops and even parades, the annual GIANT PUPPET FESTIVAL stages events at 14 locations, mostly in the Marigny and Bywater areas of the city, to celebrate excellence in the puppetry arts. Artists from around the globe come to New Orleans to showcase stories and techniques for using puppets and other objects. Included in the parades will be spots for puppet “slams” or performances. From marionettes to giant walking heads, there’s plenty to see and learn. Tickets to most performances start at $25. Check out more information on the puppets here.
The Louisiana Children’s Museum Mud Fest will be held April 5. Kids are shown playing on a hill of mud at last year’s event.
It’s MUD FEST, time to get messy at the Louisiana Children’s Museum. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, all ages are invited to participate in an obstacle course and other interactive activities with two stages of entertainment. The highlight will be the giant dirt pile for climbing and building. There will be a “kid wash” to clean up after the muddy merriment. Tickets start at $24. Dive in right here to get messy.
The St. Bernard Irish Italian Islenos parade makes its way through the streets of Chalmette celebrating the heritage of the area. The parade started and ended at the St. Bernard Parish Government Complex and Sigur Civic Center and included marching units and more than four dozen floats. Lots of produce was given out during the parade such as cabbages, potatoes, oranges, lemons, and pineapples. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
The processions are still rolling in the metro area. St. Bernard Parish’s IRISH ITALIAN ISLEÑOS PARADE is a Carnival-style parade includes floats, trucks, musical groups and marching units and celebrates the trio of hometown cultures. The parade, which loops on West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette, starts and ends at the Sigur Civic Center at 11 a.m. Saturday. The parades keep rolling with information here.
Writer and folklorist Mona Lisa Saloy signs her book of poetry, ‘Black Creole Chronicles’ during a One Book One New Orleans event at the University of New Orleans library Feb. 22.
POETRY WITHOUT BORDERS is a verse and music festival plus book signings Saturday at 3 p.m. at Café Instanbul, 2372 St. Claude Ave. The 2025 edition will celebrate Black and Brown poets of New Orleans and feature Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy, the state poet laureate from 2021-23. Additional poets will include Claudia Duran, Shera Phillips, Karism Price and Jennifer Pagan, as well as music by Margie Perez and Amaira Falcon. Interdisciplinary artist José Torres-Tama is spearheading the event, which will also have Mexican food available and the Community Book Center will be on hand to sell. The sliding scale starts at $10. Check out Torres-Tama’s site for more information.
New Orleans singer-songwriter Mia Borders
Music, community and help for a support organization that works with women and children facing homelessness sounds like a good time for a good cause when HOPE FEST comes to Zony Mash Beer Project to help Hotel Hope Saturday at 7 p.m. at 3940 Thalia St. Mia Borders headlines, with the Preservation Hall All Stars, with theatrical icon Bryan Batt taking the MC duties. In addition to the food from local chefs, brews, tunes and more, there will be a silent auction of some choice goodies including dining experiences, artwork and sports memorabilia. Tickets start at $125. Get in on the Hope here.
Racers navigate the course at Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery. (Photo by Scott Threlkeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
Running through a cemetery in a horror film seems better suited for the Overlook Film Festival but that’s not the case Sunday for the 24th anniversary gallop through the graves. RUN/WALK THROUGH HISTORY at Metairie Cemetery, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., is sort of a “tip of the hat” to the history of the spot as a racetrack. But now, the 5K and 1K races benefit the Preservation Resource Center’s Save Our Cemeteries, dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the historic “cities of the dead” cherished in the Crescent City. Entry fees start at $35, with registration at 7:30 a.m. Step out in the right direction here.