There are a couple of fun events this weekend to, maybe, take your mind off last weekend's travesty.
The Fair Grounds race track gets exotic Saturday.
"It's always nice to have a little unique vibe here," says spokesman Ryan Martin. "And, exotic animal racing definitely brings that."
The thoroughbreds will take to the track, as usual. And, then, there's that unique vibe.
"It's exotic animal racing. Zebras, camels ostriches...oh my!"
The jockeys will board their beasts beginning at 3pm. There'll also be live music and lots of food trucks.
But, all eyes will be on the animals.
"It's definitely an interesting sight," says Martin. "And definitely something different here at the track. It'll be fun, to say the least."
The fun shifts to Champions Square Sunday, for the 6th annual King Cake Festival.
"Over the last six year, we've managed to raise a half-a-million dollars for Ochsner Hospital for Children and partnered with some of the best bakeries in south Louisiana," says Kathleen McCulla, Director of Special Events for Ochsner Health System.
McCulla says some 26 bakers will be serving up their best versions of the Carnival treats for your judging and enjoyment.
"But we have more than 26 types of king cakes, because the bakeries are able to bring out multiple flavors."
"They submit one for the People's Choice sample. And they're able to bring out other flavors to sell and other flavors to submit for the Bakers' Competition."
McCulla says the event will be a chance for New Orleanians to lick our wounds as well as some icing. There'll be a good taste of Black & Gold at the event.
"We plan on, probably, doing a little bit of Who Dat chanting since we'll be in the Square on a Sunday eating some king cake to ease our pain a little bit, right there under Mr. Benson's wonderful statue. So, we're all, you know, getting through this together."
There'll be live music at the Square from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free, though you'll need tasting tickets to sample the goods and support Ochsner's pediatric programs.