The French Market’s 4th Annual Boo Carré Halloween and Harvest Festival Sunday October 21, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Amy Kirk Duvoisin
(504) 522-2621 ext. 20
akirk@frenchmarket.org

The French Market's 4^th Annual Boo Carré Halloween and Harvest Festival Sunday October 21^st 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

A daytime family event featuring free trick or treating for kids, indoor/outdoor entertainment, petting zoo, cooking demonstrations, costume contests, and plenty of pumpkins for sale!

 Trick or Treating is free for kids in costume from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick up your black Boo Carré bags at Dumaine Plaza in the French Market District, near the entrance to Dutch Alley at Decatur Street. Get a Trick or Treat Sheet telling you which shops are participating. The trick-or-treating will take place throughout a 6-block area, from the Upper Pontalba, the Colonnade on Decatur, in Dutch Alley, and through the Farmers Market.

IN DUTCH ALLEY: between Dumaine and St. Phillip Streets

Note: There will be hay bales for fun photos and romping for little ones in Dutch Alley.

INSIDE THE JAZZ PARK in Dutch Alley: Free music and theater!

12:00 - 12:45 p.m. Jim and Martha Hession perform ghoulish ragtime and jazz pieces

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. The Uptown Music Theatre performs "SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK" under the direction of Delfeayo Marsalis

3:00 - 3:45 p.m. Jim and Martha Hession perform Halloween themed jazz pieces

Outside in Dutch Alley, between the Jazz Park and the Pavilion:

11 a.m.-12 p.m. Drum Circle with Hope Stone Kids New Orleans (formerly Kid's Play NOLA). A dance and drumming performance workshop that is fun for the whole family. Our master teacher CoCo Williams will perform Afro-Cuban dances accompanied by master drummer Alexey Marti. After each performance the audience will be encouraged to participate in the fun; CoCo will teach the steps while Alexey will teach the rhythms that accompany each traditional dance. The entire family is welcome to join.

4 p.m. Navy Band New Orleans Brass Band performs classic New Orleans-style music

At the Pavilion in Dutch Alley (at St. Phillip Street): FREE!

Petting Zoo 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rowdy's Rascals Petting Zoo features horses, pigs, goats and free photos!

Facepainting 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Halloween-themed face painting all day. Free!

Interactive Craft Booths: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kids can "make and take" artwork, made with the help of local artisans. Free!

• Make jack-o-lantern scarfs with Adorn me Antoinette/ Chelsea Design Studio.
• Paint wooden pumpkin magnets and wooden Boo Carré dog tags with HeARt of Justus
• YA/YA Young Artists/Young Aspirations will help kids create Halloween themed artwork
   

FARMERS MARKET STAGE between Ursulines and Gov Nicholls Streets

11:00 A.M. KIDS COSTUME CONTEST. Sign up 15 minutes prior (10:45 a.m.). Free to enter! Prizes include gift certificates to the French Market District shops and restaurants. Limited to the first 12 contestants. Categories: Spookiest, cutest, silliest, most original, best handmade costume, plus a Boo! Shout contest bonus prize. Open to kids age 1 through 12.

12:00 p.m. FAT HEN GROCERY Pumpkin carving & cooking demonstration

1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Amerigroup presents a HARVESTING HEALTH COOKING DEMO featuring Meals from the Heart Café cooking up healthy seasonal foods. Free samples.

2:00 to 3:00 p.m. PIE EATING CONTESTS hosted by Southern Food and Beverage Museum, with pie crust demonstrations and discussions. Featuring sweet potato pies provided by Loretta's Pralines! Kids and adult eating contests.

3:30 P.M. KIDS COSTUME CONTEST #2. Sign up 15 minutes prior (10:45 a.m.). Free to enter! Prizes include gift certificates to the French Market District shops and restaurants. Limited to the first 12 contestants. Categories: Spookiest, cutest, silliest, most original, best handmade costume, plus a Boo! Shout contest bonus prize.

4:00 P.M. - 6:00 p.m. Abita Springs Opry features two performances: The Petty Bones at 4 p.m. and Last Chance Bluegrass Band at 5 p.m.

PLUS, nearby in Farmers Market stalls all day:

Pumpkins for sale at two produce stands in the Farmers Market: MOTHER NATURE'S CUPBOARD & FRENCH MARKET PRODUCE

Plus these special vendors:

• Pumpkin Carving by Chris Hunter, known for his "Jazzy Ice" sculptures. Specialty pumpkins carved and for sale by this award winning local artist. ($)
• Pumpkin painting; buy a pumpkin and paint it yourself! Paint and supplies offered free, with friendly adult monitors on-hand to assist and inspire. Free with pumpkin purchase!

• Funeral carriage pictures with Airship Isabella. ($)

• The Cupcake Fairies will be selling special harvest themed cupcake kits that you can buy and make on site or make and take home. Halloween and harvest themed decorations will be included in the kits. ($)