Hogs for the Cause - It's a Pork & Music Lovers Paradise - March 24th!

Great music plus yummy BBQ for a great cause can only mean one thing, and that's Hogs for the Cause (Hogs)! The pork (and music) lovers paradise is back in City Park on Saturday, March 24th - so, get ready to get high on the hog with Louisiana’s only all-pork competition & fundraiser featuring an incredible musical line-up, including Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, Marcia Ball & more!

In its fourth year, the annual fundraiser has grown featuring a larger location, more competitors, expanded on-site activities, and new competition categories. Event founders have set a goal of raising $350,000 to help support the fight against pediatric brain cancer.  And when gates open at 10:30 AM, attendees will be inundated with the sounds and smells of Louisiana, including an array of delicious pork dishes prepared by 60 competitors, bites prepared by local food truck vendors, and ice cold beer provided by sponsor NOLA Brewing. New to Hogs this year is the Porkade, an adult-themed arcade including games like “Ring Around the Rosé” Wine Toss, as well as VIP ticket packages.

Festival goers will also have a chance to vote for their favorite team through the "free" Hogs iPhone application. “By engaging fans to vote for their favorites, we expect this year’s festival to be the most competitive ever. I can’t wait to see what all of our teams cook up,” says co-founder, Rene Louapre.



And Hogs isn't just about the pork - check out the musical line-up!

Mississippi Rail Company - 11:00 am
Stooges Brass Band - 12:15 pm
Marcia Ball - 1:45 pm
The Gourds - 3:45 pm
Voice of the Wetlands Allstars - 6:00 pm
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue - 8:00 pm

So make your plans to come out to Hogs - It's going to be a fun filled, music loving, pork filled day for a very worthy cause. Recognizing the need by more children and families for their support, Hogs for the Cause, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has distributed nearly $75,000 in grants to families with children battling pediatric brain cancer, filling the gap on expenses where insurance might not cover, alleviating the financial burdens associated with the disease.

Hogs Info:

When: Saturday, March 24, 2012 - Gates open at 10:30 am; Music & food all day till 10pm
Where: Frisbee Golf Fields at City Park (1 Palm Drive)

Tickets:

General Admission - $10 in advance / $20 at the gate / Kids Under 12 Get in Free!
VIP Packages:
$100 Market Hog Pass - (Includes unlimited draft beer from NOLA Brewing & free pork samples from competitors)
$250 Boss Hogs Pass - (Includes all-access pass to Hogs VIP area with open bar, catering, private restrooms, unlimited draft beer from NOLA Brewing, free pork samples from competitors, and judging of pork cook-off)

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.HogsfortheCause.org.

Saturday with Fests from Around the World and Gretna & Houma too!

Happy Saturday Everybody - Hope everyone is having an excellent weekend so for!

Here's some good stuff going on today!

Check out Japan Fest from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the New Orleans Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden.  Lots of fun stuff with demos of Japanese crafts and tea ceremonies, traditional drummers, raffles, anime costume contest, martial arts and dance demonstrations plus food and crafts for sale.  Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for Seniors, students and active military and $ 3 for kid 17 and under.

Check out Que Pasa Fest 2011 at Lafreniere Park (3000 Downs).  The Latino cultural festival features, music, food and entertainment from noon to 8:00 pm.  Artists include Rumba Buena, Jovany Barreto, Fredy Omar con su Banda and More - Admission is Free!

Head on over to Houma for the Voice of the Wetlands Festival at Southdown Plantation House (1208 Museum Dr.) today and Sunday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm - Entertainment includes Tab Benoit and the Voice of the Wetlands Band. Check out the website for all the info:  www.voiceofthewetlands.org.


The Gretna Heritage Festival is all weekend long!!
* Saturday October 8 2pm - 11pm
* Sunday October 9 2pm - 9pm
With music, food, arts & crafts, games & rides and 7 Stages Local and International Acts!! Located in historic downtown Gretna, LA the Gretna Heritage Festival encompasses approximately 25 city blocks. Free parking and a free shuttle during the festival will be available at the Westside Shopping Center behind Academy Sporting Goods and at Oakwood Center in Terrytown. Pedestrians ride free on the
Gretna-Canal Street ferry.

The Gretna Heritage Festival offers a varied food court featuring fresh New Orleans cuisine and much more. The food dished out from the giant food tent will be exceptional with just about every culture represented. Dine under a large tent complete with tables & chairs. Check out the site to see some of the dishes available at the Festival - http://www.gretnafest.com/food.php
*Check out the site to see the enormous selection of arts, crafts and collectibles available at the Festival - http://www.gretnafest.com/arts-crafts.php
*Check out the site to see some of the crafts exciting carnival rides & games for wholesome family fun - http://www.gretnafest.com/rides.php
*$15 Admission and $40 Weekend Pass 12 and Under Admitted Free
Tickets Available Online - http://www.gretnafest.com/

The Amazing Acro-Cats Halloween Spooktacular continue at The Shadowbox Theatre (2400 St. Claude) with nearly two weeks of Halloween spooky fun running through October 16. If you think it's difficult housebreaking a kitten, imagine training one to ride a skateboard. Shows are at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, with 10 p.m. performances on Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays. Click on the link to purchase tickets: http://www.theshadowboxtheatre.com/Shadowbox/Tickets.html

Have a great Saturday and Geaux Tigers!!!  For more great music and fun stuff going on today click on the WWOZ Livewire - http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar - Have a good one!



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