You don't have to be a ghoul or a goblin to have a good time in the metro area this weekend.
You can celebrate pop culture, find that perfect pet or check out a brand new festival on the Northshore.
Saturday's Pet Fest at Lafreniere Park, 10am - 4:00pm, is the Jefferson Parish SPCA's largest event of the year.
"So we see over 20,000 participants with their amazing animals," says Programs Director, Jacob Stroman. "It's the party where pets bring their people."
The Saturday party features a Pet Marketplace, Pet Health Watch area, delicious local cuisine, great music and a Pet Adopt-A-Thon with 40 Shelter/Rescue groups.
"You can see, probably, over 400 animals up for adoption that are on display, seeking their forever homes," says Stroman. There's also a free pet costume contest with amazing prizes.
"Our costume contest is really fun. You'll see some really funny and fun costumes throughout the event."
https://www.jeffersonspca.org/pet-fest
Or, for something different, travel a bit to Abbeville in Vermilion Parish for the Giant Omelette Celebration.
"We're going to cooking up 5,000-plus eggs in a 12-foot skillet over a beautiful open fire. And, boy, do we have the weather for it," says spokeswoman Arlene Collee.
She says it takes about an hour-and-a-half to make it, including breaking a lot of eggs.
"That's a lot of crackin'! And we put a lot of other stuff in it. It's not real fattening, but we do put in 52 pounds of butter. And we put Tabasco sauce and Louisiana crawfish tails, among other things, in it."
She admits the final concoction is not really an omelet.
"We got a lot of people stirring it around, so it actually ends up being scrambled eggs. Then, we give it out free to the public with French bread and we have no trouble getting rid of it."
She says they also whip up a small 600-egg children's omelet. There's also an egg-cracking contest, arts and crafts show, live music, food, and an antique car show. The celebration pays homage to French culture and language. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Other area events:
November 1 - 3At Big Easy Con, meet stars like Zachary Levi and "Weird Al" Yankovic, enjoy hours of programming, and bring the kids to Big Easy Jr! Big Easy Con is an inclusive pop culture convention celebrating the one-of-a-kind culture and people that make New Orleans one of the best cities in the world. Location: Ernest N. Morial Convention Centerhttps://bigeasycon.com/
November 1 - 3The 3rd annual Bayou Road Balloon Festival will be held in the oaks of Sidney D. Torres Memorial Park in Chalmette. The festival features multiple hot air balloons creating a spectacular 'night glow' each evening. The stage and festival grounds will be packed with local musicians and artists showcasing the vibrant communities of St. Bernard Parish. Tethered balloon rides, kite demos, carnival rides, a midway, and local food & beer booths.https://www.bayouroadballoonfestival.com/
November 2The inaugural Abita Springs Fall Fest is a creative endeavor to celebrate and showcase all of the rich and wonderful heritage found in the quaint town of Abita Springs, Louisiana. The fest takes place on the trailhead of the St. Tammany Trace and features 10 bands performing on two stages, plus art, food and beer. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $20-25, free for children 10 and younger.https://www.abitafallfest.com/
November 2The Taste of Africa Fest showcases delicious, authentic African cuisine, music, dance, and culture. The NOLA Caribbean Experience & Afrobeat NOLA are teaming up to bring New Orleans this one-of-a-kind event! The event will feature authentic food vendors from Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Ethiopia and Trinidad. Live African dance & drumming performance by Nkiruka African Dance Company, Togalese singer Kogjo and much more. 4:00pm-Midnight at Culture Park, 3000 Franklin Ave. Tickets are $10.https://www.myneworleans.com/taste-of-africa-mini-fest-saturday-july-27/
November 2The Acadia Music Festival is a massive cultural event that takes place in Thibodaux, LA, and is fun for the whole family! National headliners join local musicians at the daylong festival, which also has a Southern food court, an art market and children's activities. 10 a.m.-midnight. $35 in advance, $45 at the gate. Location: Acadia Plantation Town Center in Thibodaux, La.https://acadiamusicfest.net/
November 2Pumpkin Smash. Looking for something to do with your leftover pumpkins from Halloween? Compost NOW recommends smashing them instead of trashing them. The event at Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center will include composting pumpkins, collecting seeds for roasting and making soup out of pumpkins that are still edible to donate to people who are hungry. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 4300 S. Broad Ave. https://www.facebook.com/events/rosa-f-keller-library-and-community-cent...
November 3The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival will take place Sunday along a commercial strip of Oak Street in the city's Carrollton neighborhood. The one-day-only event, with hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., features live music, arts and crafts and, of course, booths offering many different types of po-boys. the The festival also celebrates the rebirth of a once-thriving shopping district with roots as deep as the neighborhood itself.https://www.neworleans.com/event/oak-street-po-boy-festival/3211/
November 3The Dia de los Muertos Festival, put on by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana will include an altar, live music from fiddler Amanda Shaw & The Cute Guys, food, kids’ activities, local vendors and a costume contest. Noon-6 p.m. at the New Orleans Baby Cakes Stadium, 6000 Airline Drive, Metairie, La.https://www.hccl.biz/
Weekends Nov. 2-Dec. 8The Louisiana Renaissance Festival is a renaissance fair near Hammond, Louisiana. The festival takes place on a location that emulates a historical 16th century village in England during the 1565 fall harvest festival. Performers and staff wear period costumes, helping set the atmosphere for the Renaissance-era English village decor of the festival grounds. There are special shows, live entertainment, arts and crafts and educational demonstrations. Camping is available. 46468 River Road, Hammond, La.https://www.larf.net/
