We welcome a brand new festival this weekend. It's the Louisiana Redfish Festival in Chalmette.
"It's the first time there's ever been a redfish festival anywhere in the country," says festival founder, Captain Gritter Griffin. "I guess the lowly redfish is finally going to get the recognition it deserves."
And, fittingly, it's being held in the "Redfish Capital of the World."
Griffin says local restaurants will make sure it's a palate pleaser, with the best of St. Bernard seafood.
"We got some people doing blackened redfish tacos, some of them are doing fried redfish, they're doing 'em any way you can have 'em and they're might good. I've already sampled it."
And, he promises great entertainment to accompany it all.
"We got all the best of the best local bands and a few from out of town that folks haven't heard...really up and coming bands are coming to visit us and play some great music to go with that great food.
https://www.redfishfestival.com/
Meanwhile, the Gretna Heritage Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. And, Fest Director Ricky Templet says it's grown to one of the area's largest festivals.
"You're looking at a three-day, 25-city-block event with over five stages of music going on, more than 60 different performers throughout the whole event and 60- to 100-thousand people showing up."
He also emphasizes the cultural aspect of the event that's incorporated every year.
"The Italian Village, the German Beer Garden...and this year, we're introducing the Latin Village which has its own music right there on the river."
He promises great food and great music.
"We always have your local staples like Amanda Shaw, Rockin' Dopsie, the Bucktown All-Stars, Irma Thomas, and so on and so on."
Featured headliners this year include Rick Springfield, KC and The Sunshine Band and Starship.
The 9th annual Gleason Gras takes place Saturday in Champions Square to raise awareness for ALS and to support the Team Gleason Foundation.
The Square will be filled with live music, a silent auction, costume contests, food trucks, and more.
Featured artists include the 610 Stompers, PussyFooters, the Hot 8 Brass Band and Dumpstaphunk.
Like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, Storyland is about to awaken, fresh as a daisy after an $8,000 renovation. The popular City Park playland will reopen at noon Saturday at 5 Victory Ave.
The 60-year-old exhibit features a romp with storybook figures including Mother Goose, Humpty Dumpy, Jack and the Beanstalk and more localized images such as Boudreaux the Zydeco Gator. Fall hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
https://neworleanscitypark.com/in-the-park/storyland
The annual Alligator Festival at the Westbank Bridge Park in St. Charles Parish is this weekend. The Alligator Festival is hosted by the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish to raise funds for college scholarships to our local youth. You won't want to say "see you later alligator" to this one of a kind festival!
https://www.alligatorfestival.org/
Or, you can travel to the Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival, going on Friday and Saturday.
The 2019 lineup features two stages of music with over a dozen acts including crowd favorites Paul Thorn, Mia Borders, Dwayne Dopsie and The Honey Island Swamp Band.
Camping is available, along with rock climbing, train rides, and a splash pad for kids.
