New Orleans Event Calendar
Friday, March 8 – NOMA Exhibition Opening
Portrait of Faith: John Paul II in Life and Art
Organized by the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, this exhibition, which marks 25 years since Pope John Paul II’s historic visit to New Orleans in 1987, celebrates his life through sculpture, photography and video. For more information, visit www.noma.org
Saturday, March 9 – Louisiana Oyster Jubilee
This fairly new local festival was founded by New Orleans Musical Legends Inc. and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board in 2007. The entire 300 block of Bourbon Street celebrates the almighty mollusk with local restaurants like Antoine’s, Bombay Club and Desire Oyster Bar teaming up to create the World’s Longest Oyster Po-Boy! For more information, visit www.OysterJubilee.com
Friday, March 15 – Lark in the Park: Cabana Nights
Get into your cocktail attire to attend the Friends of City Park’s fabulous gala to celebrate the creation of a Cabana Plaza in the new Splash Park coming to New Orleans City Park. The gala will feature food from 40 of New Orleans’ top restaurants and festive libations by Republic National Distributing Company. Visit www.friendsofcitypark.com for more information.
Friday, March 15 – Jim Monaghan’s Annual Irish Parade from Molly’s on the Market
Featuring local celebrities and musicians in mule-drawn carriages, this annual parade makes a large circle that both begins and ends at Molly’s at the Market on 1107 Decatur Street. For more information or to sign up for a membership and roll in this year’s parade, please visit www.MollysattheMarket.net
Friday, March 15 & Sunday, March 17 – “Samson and Delilah”
The New Orleans Opera Association presents “Samson and Delilah” in French with English supertitles at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. See the Bible come to life! Tragic hero Samson is enticed by the bewitching Delilah to give up the secret of his strength. In the end, his strong faith grants him the power to free his people. For tickets and more information, visit www.neworleansopera.org
Saturday, March 17 – Downtown Irish Club Parade
First organized in 1976, the annual downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade begins on the corner of Burgundy and Piety in the Bywater, proceeds roughly up Royal, across Esplanade to Decatur and up Bienville to Bourbon. The parade makes several “pit stops” on its way to Bourbon, including Markey’s Bar on Louisa Street, Bud Rip’s Bar on Piety Street and 13 on Frenchmen Street.
Wednesday, March 20 to Sunday, March 24 – Fashion Week New Orleans
Fashion Week will include a “Top Design Competition,” a “Fashion Industry Career Day” and a “Bridal Showcase” in addition to nightly runway shows featuring local and regional designers. Over 50 runway shows during the five-day event serve as a platform for Southern designers, make-up artists, hair stylists and models to bring a new level of creative consciousness to the regional industry. For more information, visit www.fashionweeknola.com
Wednesday, March 20th to Sunday, March 24 – Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
In honor of the great playwright, Tennessee Williams, New Orleans explodes with literary panels, master classes, theater, special events like “Stella” and “Stanley” shouting contests, walking tours, food events and musical performances. This year’s festival promises a line-up that includes four Pulitzer Prize winners: author and judge of the fiction contest, Michael Cunningham; playwright, Marsha Norman; journalist and novelist, Leonard Pitts and Oscar-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley, plus Emily Mann, director of the recent all-black production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” on Broadway. For more information and tickets, visit www.TennesseeWilliams.net
Friday, March 22 & Saturday, March 23 – Hogs For the Cause
Hogs for the Cause is an annual finger-lickin’ fund-raising festival featuring a pork BBQ cook-off and plenty of live music. The purpose is to provide aid and relief of those variable expenses and economic burdens that families face while their child is being treated for pediatric brain cancer. Currently, Hogs for the Cause operates as the premier funding source for pediatric brain cancer outreach services in the United States and has given grants to over 40 families in need.
Saturday, March 23 & Sunday, March 24 – Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival
The Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Louisiana and the influences from Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America that combined to make New Orleans a melting pot of world culture. The festival will take place at the Old U.S. Mint on Esplanade Avenue and Decatur Street.
Saturday, March 23 & Sunday, March 24 – Nola Food Festival
“Celebrate and Savor” the diversity of our nation’s food at the Nola Food Festival! The popular festival has moved the festivities to the French Market, which means room for a whole lot more food and fun! From a huge crawfish boil featuring endless crawfish and a “whole-hog,” cochon de lait barbeque to a beignet-eating contest, this will be one festival you won’t want to miss. For more information, visit www.NolaFoodFest.com