Photo Taken In United States, New Orleans

Weekend Picks: Mac N’Cheese Fest and bring on spooky season!

We're not complaining about Halloween happening in the middle of fall fest season

by Mary Staes | October 19, 2018

Can we just sit outside all weekend? This sunny, a little warm but kinda breezy weather is perfect for everything.

By everything we mean a fest dedicated to mac & cheese, a parade (because why not) for Halloween, Trombone Shorty’s homecoming concert and wiener dog races.

Here are our picks for this weekend:

NOLA Mac N’Cheese Fest 

Last year was the first go-round for this one-day fest, and it was so popular most of the vendors sold out of food. This year, most vendors are planning to bring double to prepare for the crowds. They’ve got local favorites, like crawfish mac, ham and cheese mac and even a vegan option to pick from. Make sure you get there early and check out the menu before heading out to know what spots you should hit up first.

Louis Armstrong Park
Getting there
701 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA
Hours
Mon-Sun 7 AM – 7 PM
More Info

Where: Louis Armstrong Park, 701 North Rampart Street
When: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Price: Free, but food and drink tickets must be purchased

Krewe of Boo

It’s not a holiday without a parade here, and Halloween is no exception. The Krewe of Boo usually includes candy in its throws for the little ones. This year there will be 400 riders and 30 marching groups all in costume for the parade which starts in the Marigny, rolls through the French Quarter and ends in the Warehouse District at Generations Hall. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m.

Tales From The Blvd.

We’re partnering up with the Nola Kool Kids and Neauxla Professionals for an Adult Fright Night street crawl! Two groups will visit three different experiences on O.C. Haley Blvd. for drinks, games and fun! Plus, the soundtrack will be provided by DJ RajSmoove, DJ Hawaii 5-0, and DJ Black Pearl, just to name a few. Click here for tickets.

Lot 1701
Getting there
1701 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113, USA
Hours
Mon-Fri 9 AM – 6 PM
Sat-Sun Closed
More Info

Where: Starts at Lot 1701, Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
When: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, 4-10 p.m.
Price: $20-$40

Trombone Shorty’s Hometown Threauxdown

NEW ORLEANS, LA – APRIL 29: Trombone Shorty and Juvenile perform during Trombone Shorty’s Treme Threauxdown at Saenger Theatre on April 29, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)

Fresh off a two-month tour across the country, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews is bringing together local legends for his homecoming concert. Saturday’s show at Champions Square includes names like Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, Partners-N-Crime and the New Breed Brass Band. Even more local musicians are expected to show up during the performance. Click here to check up our full write-up on the concert.

Champions Square
Getting there
Lasalle St, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
More Info

Where: Champions Square
When: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, 6 p.m.
Price: $25-$95

Wiener Dog Races at Oktoberfest

What’s cuter than a little wiener dog running for the finish line? We don’t know either.

The races are part of the last weekend of Oktoberfest, presented by Deutsches Haus. It’s happening on the banks of Bayou St. John, in front of the future location of the new Haus. Tickets are $8 to the fest, and if you’ve got a runner (of the four-legged variety) and want to race, $30 registration includes festival entrance. Click here for more about celebrating Oktoberfest in the Crescent City.

1700 Moss St
Getting there
1700 Moss St, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA

Where: 1700 Moss Street
When: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, 3 p.m.
Price: $30 to register a racer

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Mary Staes

Mary Staes

Mary Staes is Digital Content Lead for Very Local. She works with our freelancers and crafts content for our social media platforms and website. Before Very Local, she worked with CBS affiliate WWL-TV as a web producer and weekend assignment editor for about 4 years. She has also handled broadcast coverage for 160 Marine Reserve training facilities while she served as an active duty Marine. As a native New Orleanian, she takes being "very local" to heart. She loves being intertwined with the culture and figuring out how there are less than two degrees of separation between us all, whether we're natives or not.

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