Community events
GREEK FEST: The 48th annual festival on Bayou St. John includes music, Hellenic dancing, rides, food and cathedral tours May 26-28, at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1200 Allen Toussaint Blvd. in New Orleans. Gates open 5-11 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $10, with children under 12 free. A 5K run/walk and 1-mile kids run, put on by the New Orleans Track Club, will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. See www.gfno.com
MEMORIAL DAY: Gretna Branch 162 of the Fleet Reserve Association will hold a “Two Bell” service at 11 a.m. May 29 at 703 Kepler St. in Gretna, honoring past, present and deceased members. Area veteran organizations will also honor their dead, and those who served. Guest speaker will be Navy Capt. Lena Kaman, commanding officer Naval Air Station in Belle Chasse. A POW/MIA ceremony will also take place, followed by an indoor picnic with food and drinks provided. Arrive early for parking.
MEMORIAL DAY: Jefferson Parish officials will host a Memorial Day Ceremony on at 10 a.m. May 26 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Square on Veterans Boulevard near Causeway Boulevard (on the neutral ground in front of Lakeside Shopping Center).
NEW ORLEANS FOOD FIGHT: The food and cocktail competition will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 25 at Crescent Park, 2300 N. Peters St. in New Orleans. Entertainment will include live music and burlesque by Trixie Minx. Proceeds benefit the PLEASE Foundation, a nonprofit that provides mentorship, leadership training, and scholarships for at-risk students. Tickets start at $85; VIP and early entry tickets are also available. See www.foodfightnola.com for tickets.
SIPPIN’ IN THE SUNSET: The Old Arabi Neighborhood Association celebrates the end of the school year on May 25, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Aycock Barn, 409 Aycock St., with live music by the Cypress Pop Trio, food and beverages for sale, and arts and crafts vendors. More information at www.oldarabi.org.
MOVIES IN THE PARK: “Minions: The Rise of Gru” on May 27, starting at 8 p.m. at Heritage Park, 2015 Fourth St. in Kenner. Admission is free. Candy, drinks and popcorn will be available for purchase. More information at www.kenner.la.us.
MUSIC IN THE PARK: A free concert in Kenner by Category 6 on May 26. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. at Heritage Park, 2015 Fourth St. in Kenner. Arts and crafts and food vendors will be on-site. More information at www.kenner.la.us.
PARC DES FAMILLES SPRAY PARK: The Spray Park's 16 water features at 6101 Leo Kerner Lafitte Parkway in Marrero are open daily, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Aug. 13. Call (504) 349-5000 for more information.
ORMOND SPRAY PARK: The St. Charles Parish park is open weekends, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. From May 30 to Aug. 27, the hours will be Tuesday through Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. From Aug. 29 through Sept. 24, the park will operate on the weekends-only schedule. For more information see scpparksandrec.com or call (985) 783-5090.
FRENCH QUARTER GARDEN TOUR: The Patio Planters will host a self-guided walking tour of private gardens and courtyards in the French Quarter on May 27, from noon to 4 p.m. Pick up tickets, $35 and $40 day of, at the Cabildo on Jackson Square from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Children under 12 are free. Information and tickets at patioplanters.net.
SENIOR FEST 2023: The New Orleans Council on Aging will hold a senior party and vendor fair on May 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Joe Brown Recreation Center, 5601 Read Blvd. in New Orleans. It will include a community awards ceremony and lunch. Tickets are a $5 donation; call (504) 821-4121.
LULING SENIOR CELEBRATION: The Council on Aging and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) will host the annual event May 25, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center, 274 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway in Luling. St. Charles Parish adults 55 and older can RSVP by May 11 by calling (985) 331-9701 or (985) 783-8907. Those in need of transportation should call (985) 783-6683.
ST. BERNARD LIBRARY: The library’s summer reading program kicks off May 30 with prizes, games, pictures, and snacks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Through July, the program will include story craft programs, special community visitors, teen and tween workshops, guest artists and readers, and more. Events will be at the main branch, 2600 Palmisano Blvd, in Chalmette. A calendar of events will be posted on the library’s Facebook page. For more info, call (504) 279-0448, or go to mysbpl.org.
FESTIVALS
NOLA ZYDECO FEST: The NOLA Zydeco Fest will take place on June 10 at A.L. Davis Park, 2600 LaSalle St. in New Orleans. More information on the poster and the festival is available at nolazydecofest.com.
FUNDRAISERS/GALAS
NUIT de la MUSIQUE: Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans and Amis Du Lycee’s gala fundraiser will be held May 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cabildo, 701 Chartres St., New Orleans. Grammy Award-winning Louis Michot, fiddle player and lead singer for the Lost Bayou Ramblers, will be honored, along with a silent auction. Tickets are $150, adlf.networkforgood.com/events/56806-nuit-de-la-musique-at-the-cabildo?utm_campaign=dms_email_blast_2557405. Lycée Français is New Orleans’ only French pre K-12 public school
CLASSES
GUN SAFETY: The New Orleans Police Department is offering free gun safety classes. A limited number of safety locks and safes will be distributed. For more information, call (504) 658-5858.
- June 1: 7 p.m., SUNO Gym, 6400 Press Drive
- June 9: 7 p.m., Joe Brown Gym, 5601 Read Blvd.
- June 16: 7 p.m., Morris F.X. gym, 2529 Gen. Meyer Ave.
- June 23: 7 p.m., St Bernard gym, 1500 Lafreniere St.
HEALTHY MEAL PREPARATION: Dietitian Devin Brittain will present a recipe demonstration class May 30 at 6 p.m. at Faith Church, 2525 Apollo Ave. in Harvey. The event, sponsored by Be Well-Come Together, is free. Registration is required at bewellcometogether@gmail.com or (504) 368-2525.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERIES: “Transitions and Self-Esteem in Children,” the last of three child development workshops, will be on Aug. 12, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Nunez Community College's Fine Arts Center, 3710 Paris Road in Chalmette. Free, but space is limited. Registration deadline is Aug. 5. To register, contact CDYC program chair Kathy Huff at (504) 278-6288 or khuff@nunez.edu.
SMART DRIVER: People 50 and older who complete the four-hour AARP Smart Driver class will receive a certificate that may qualify them for a car insurance discount. The next class will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 14 at Ochsner/Elmwood Fitness Center in Elmwood Shopping Center, 1200 S. Clearview Parkway, Harahan. The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for others. To register, call (504) 828-3962 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
FREE EXERCISE CLASSES: The nonprofit Be Well — Come Together is organizing free exercise classes modified for all levels from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at 2525 Apollo Ave., Harvey. No registration is required. For information, call (504) 368-2525 or email bewellcometogether@gmail.com.
WATERCOLOR CLASSES: Artist Diego Larguia's classes on June 6, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the BK House, 1113 Chartres St. in New Orleans, are open to all skill levels. All three classes are $90 for museum members, $120 for nonmembers. Individual classes are $35/$45. Preregistration is required at www.bkhouse.org.
MEETINGS
NARFE: Vernon N. Landry Chapter 1398 will hold its next monthly luncheon meeting on June 14, beginning at 11 a.m., in the Sicilian Room of Rocky and Carlo’s Restaurant, 613 St. Bernard Highway. All active and retired federal/postal employees are invited. For more information, email pamela.e.marks1953@gmail.com.