New Orleans Free and Frugal Events This Weekend

If you're not heading out to Jazz Fest this weekend, here are a couple of events that will keep you busy and having fun!

First, if you're heading out west, check out the Little Red Church Food and Fun Festival at the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Destrehan (THAT was a mouthful!). Admission is free. The fair runs through Sunday and will have plenty of food, rides, and great music (including one of my favorites - the Bucktown Allstars on Saturday!).

If you're heading out that way on Saturday, why not stop by the Luling Planetarium for a couple of free shows. At 10am see "Wilbear's Adventure" and at 2pm check out the Twinkle Theater.

Also this weekend is the St. Philip Neri May Fair. It runs Friday and Saturday, and again will have plenty of food, music, and fun!

Enjoy the weekend!

Wednesday's Free and Frugal Finds

Remember, every Wednesday is free admission to the New Orleans Museum of Art! Tonight, from 6-8pm you can attend a listening party for Quintron's new album. They say the party starts at the Stern Auditorium inside the museum, and that part of the party will be too loud for children. The party then moves outside to the Besthoff Sculpture Garden outside the museum at 7pm, and children are definitely welcome there.

Also tonight from 5-10pm, head over to your nearest Baskin Robbins for 31 Cent Scoop Night! Take the whole family out for an after dinner treat and not break the bank (and help the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation while you're at it)!

Have a happy Wednesday!

Bryan Foods Gift Pack Giveaway WINNER!

Congratulations to Aggie, the winner of my Bryan Foods gift pack! Aggie had comment #7, which was picked by the Random.org random number generator.

Thanks to all who entered!

Great Lawn Grand Opening and Free LPO Concert

Wednesday evening at dusk (they're saying about 6pm - 6:30pm), head over to City Park's new Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn and celebrate its grand opening with a free concert by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Bring your blanket and a picnic dinner, or enjoy the concessions that will be available for sale! The LPO will also be collecting canned goods/non-perishable foods for the Second Harvest Food Bank starting at 5pm, so you can celebrate a grand opening, listen to some great music, and do a good deed for others. Enjoy!

Bryan Foods: "Flavor of the South" Review and Giveaway - CLOSED

One way my family enjoys summertime is by grilling lunch or dinner in the backyard. It's a sure sign that warm weather is on its way when my husband starts "helping" with the grocery list by adding on "grillable" foods! One thing we ALL love to eat off the grill is delicious smoked sausage.

Bryan Foods is teaming up with the Rick & Bubba Show to host the Ultimate Bryan Neighborhood Grill-Out Contest. The grand prize winner will get to throw a neighborhood cook-out with food and grill masters provided by Bryan Foods, and a private concert by country music star Jimmy Wayne! Four runners-up will win a year's worth of Bryan products and Bryan branded merchandise. Contest entries will be accepted until April 30th, with the winner to be announced on May 5th. See here for details on how to enter (and make sure to invite me if you win!).

This weekend, we had the opportunity to try out some products courtesy of Bryan Foods. My boys are already fans of Bryan hot dogs, but this time we chose to try the Bryan Smokey Hollow Cajun Style sausage and some beef smoked sausage links. My husband grilled them up and made some sausage po-boys - they were a hit with the whole family! Sometimes I worry about purchasing "cajun-style" products, thinking they might be too spicy for my little ones, but Bryan did the "Cajun" label justice by seasoning their sausage just right. We were all able to enjoy it without the cayenne spice being too overpowering for the little guys.

Bryan has graciously offered to send one of my readers a Bryan gift pack. The gift pack includes a Bryan hooded sweatshirt, ball cap, apron, skewers in a zippered case, and some coupons for free Bryan products.

To enter, please visit the Bryan Foods website and leave me a comment telling me which Bryan product you would try first with your free Bryan coupon. This entry is mandatory - this entry must be completed or all others will be deleted. To get additional entries, you can do any of the following (leave a separate comment for each entry):

• Publicly follow my blog (1 entry)
• Subscribe to my blog via email or RSS (1 entry)
• Add my button to your sidebar (1 entry)
• Blog about this giveaway, link to http://www.bigeasymom.blogspot.com/ and leave the link to your post in the comment (2 entries)

The giveaway will close Sunday, April 25th at 11:59pm CDT. I will use Random.org to pick the winner who will have 48 hours to email me with his/her information. Please make sure you have a valid email address in your profile or in your comment so I can reach you. In the event that the winner does not respond, another winner will be chosen. U.S. entries only, please.

The featured product(s) in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to Aggie!

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events this Weekend

It looks to be another beautiful weekend in the Big Easy, and as usual, there's plenty to do to keep you busy and your pockets full!

On Saturday and Sunday, head to the westbank and celebrate at the Old Algiers River Fest. Experience the tradition of the Mardi Gras Indians, be entertained by talented local musicians, and enjoy incredible food. There will also be a children's area and local arts and crafts for sale. Admission is free.

On Sunday, head over to the Louisiana Children's Museum and Target will spring for your admission! Learn about living with disabilities in the museum's Access/ABILITY exhibit, or learn about our city's architectural traditions in the New Orleans: "Proud to Call It Home" exhibit.

Looking ahead, if you and your family enjoy canoeing, the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is offering a free moonlight canoe trip on Sunday, April 25th. The trip will run from 7-9pm, and reservations are required. Call the visitors' center at 504-689-3690 x10 to book your spot. There is also a morning canoe trek scheduled for Saturday, April 18th beginning at 9:30am.

Enjoy the weekend! Make sure to check back on Monday for a tasty product review and giveaway to get your summer fun started!

Wednesday Events

Spring has definitely sprung, and in this area that means you don't have to wait for the weekend to find something fun to do with the family! If you have some free time this Wednesday, check out the Young Leadership Council's Wednesday at the Square concert series. Every Wednesday from 5pm to 7:30pm at Lafayette Square, the YLC will be hosting two different acts for FREE! This Wednesday it's John Cleary and the Lost Bayou Ramblers. Also, parking is $4 after 4pm at 650 Poydras Street - just how often can you find discount parking downtown?

And on Wednesdays, remember there is free admission for everyone to the New Orleans Museum of Art! The museum is also open late on Wednesdays - until 8pm.
Hope you enjoy your Wednesday - looks to be another beautiful day in the Big Easy!

"Milk the Moment" at the French Quarter Festival!

If you read my post yesterday, you may remember I mentioned there will be a number of activities for kids at this weekend's French Quarter Festival. From 11am to 5pm each day (Friday through Sunday), the Milk Mustache Mobile Tour will be set up on the riverfront plaza at the Audubon Aquarium. Bring the kids and enjoy milk samples, a football toss, and make your own milk mustache souvenir photo!

My family really enjoys drinking milk. In fact, at times I've contemplated having our own dairy cow (though I don't think a cow would be quite welcome in the neighborhood - or by my husband, for that matter!). While looking through the got milk? website, I found a great timeline tool to help you understand how much milk you should drink and what benefits you earn from drinking milk at each stage of your life. In addition to all the great information contained on the website, there will be a registered dietitian on hand at the tour this weekend to help you plan healthy family meals.

Also, if you visit the Milk Mustache Tour at the French Quarter Festival, make sure you enter the "Milk the Moment" contest for your chance to win a trip for 4 to San Francisco to have dinner with Tyler Florence (one of my favorites!). And if you win and need someone to go with you, you know how to get a hold of me!

New Orleans Festivals this Weekend

This weekend, from Friday through Sunday, celebrate Spring in the French Quarter with the French Quarter Festival! Billed as the largest free music festival in the south, the French Quarter Festival is a "don't-miss" event this weekend. There will be incredible food and music to enjoy, and hopefully some beautiful Spring weather to go with it! Head to the website here for a list of acts and to create your own French Quarter Festival printable itinerary! In addition to the food and music, there will be plenty of activities for the kids to enjoy. Check back tomorrow for information on one of the kids' events that will be taking place.

Also this weekend is the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival (my mouth is watering just thinking about it!). Head up I-55 to Ponchatoula - the "Strawberry Capital of the World" - and enjoy just about any dish you can think of created with fresh, delicious, Louisiana strawberries. There will be a parade, music, games, and rides for the kids.

North or south of the lake, there is plenty to do this weekend!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all of you! I hope you have a wonderful day with your families!

New Orleans Free and Frugal Events this Weekend

It's Easter weekend and there is plenty going on to keep you busy!

On Saturday, the East Bank Regional Library in Metairie will have a Saturday craft at 10am. This Saturday's craft is a garden painting. Stick around once you're done to celebrate National Tartan Day with bagpipe and harp performances, and Scottish dancers!

Also on Saturday over in Luling, they're having the 2nd Annual St. Charles Parish Easter Egg Hunt. Registration begins at 9:30am and the hunting starts at 10:30am. There is a suggested $2 donation per child which includes the hunt, games, and an Easter hat contest.

At 2pm on Saturday, the Alvar branch of the New Orleans Public Library will be holding yet another Easter egg hunt.

In town on Easter Sunday, you have your pick of Easter parades, some more family-friendly than others. Also on Sunday at 11am, City Park will be hosting 2 Easter egg hunts for kids: for those under 6 at Storyland, and for the older kids in the Amusement Park. For $3 admission, the kids can hunt for 9000 filled eggs!

Happy hunting and Happy Easter to all!