More New Orleans-area events for this weekend!

If you're still looking for things to do this weekend, check out the Treme Creole Gumbo Festival Saturday and Sunday at the Jazz and Heritage Center on N. Rampart. They've moved the events inside the center, so the rain will not put a damper on the great musical performances (Kermit Ruffins, Trombone Shorty), but will make for perfect gumbo-eating weather!

If rolling on the river is more your style, head over to the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse Street and the river for a cruise with Santa on Saturday morning. Bring 2 non-perishable food items to donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank and receive a free ticket! The boat sets sail at 11:30am and the ticket office will begin accepting donations at 10:30am.

Have a great weekend!

Free New Orleans Events this Weekend

Here are a few fun and free events happening in the area this weekend:

St. Matthew the Apostle in Harahan is holding their fall fair this weekend, with great local food and music, and rides for the kids.

If you are looking to take a short road trip, head down to Houma and check out the Voice of the Wetlands festival. Festival admission is free, and the proceeds from food and beverage sales go to help save our Louisiana wetlands. Sundays lineup reads like a "Who's Who" of local music: Dr. John, Tab Benoit, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Anders Osborne, Monk Boudreaux, Cyril Neville, Stanton Moore, and Waylon Thibodeaux - and they're just the ones playing together as the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars! Where else but in Louisiana can you get such a treat for free?

Finally, Lowe's is again having their Build and Grow clinic for kids. Tomorrow's project is a ball toss - just in time for tailgating!

Have a great weekend and enjoy it with your family!

Jumpstart's Read for the Record

On Thursday, October 8th, please join me and thousands of others to help set a world record for reading. Go to the Jumpstart website and pledge to read Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar to be counted in the record attempt. If you create and register an event through the site by October 7th (even if its just reading in your home to your own children), you will be entered into a drawing to win a set of Eric Carle animal flashcards for your little ones!

You're already reading to your kids (aren't you???) and you may already have the Eric Carle classic in your home library, so what are you waiting for? Sign up today and show the children in your life how important reading is.

Support our Military!

One of my husband's younger cousins enlisted in the Navy and is leaving for basic training in the morning. We are so proud of him for choosing this path in his life, and know that it will lead to great things for him. With him embarking on this journey, I got to thinking about our military and ways that we can help others who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe and free. In my search, I stumbled across the group Guardian Soldiers. This non-profit organization was formed in memory of MSG Davy Weaver who was killed in action in Afghanistan on May 18, 2008, after 21 years of service to our country. MSG Weaver left behind three children, including a son with special needs. Guardian Soldiers employs special needs citizens as volunteers to fill the boxes that are sent to our soldiers. Please check out the Guardian Soldiers website to see how you can help both the soldiers and the special needs people who are helping them.