NOLA-ing

Hogs for the Cause 2019 Is Right Around The Corner!

Hogs for the Cause 2019 is, for our money, the best festival around. We have loved every Hogs we have gone to! While we won’t be able to attend due to family events, that doesn’t mean you should miss it.

Strand of Oaks at Hogs for the Cause 2015

Festival Season is Upon Us

For those of us that have the pleasure to live in South Louisiana, festival season is here. You can find all kinds of strawberry dishes (along with a host of other great foods) at the Strawberry Festival in Ponchatoula. You can enjoy music and food at the French Quarter Fest. Even small towns, like my hometown, have a festival where you can dance the night away to swamp pop. However, our favorite festival is Hogs for the Cause.

The Hogs

Hogs for the Cause 2019 is a barbecue festival. This year 85 teams will compete for every category that you can think of when it comes to BBQ pork (ribs, butt, sauce, whole hog, and more).

Here are some of the delights from previous years:

Whole hog cutting by the Drunken Pigs.
Dry rub ribs from Porkin’ Gently.
Some of the many offerings of cracklin. I unfortunately forgot to note with booth.
Kouign Bae-Con from District Donuts: “Layered with house smoked bacon, sugar, and smoked salt. Filled with bourbon braised bacon and almond-hazelnut praline. Dusted with spiced powder sugar.” HEAVEN ON EARTH.
Whole Hog Taco from Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q.
Salt & Pepper Brisket from Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q. Some vendors do offer more than pork!
Mr. Nola Nerd Couple doing double duty eating the Pork Frito Pie by Blue Oak BBQ and the Hupig Pie by Up in Smoke.
Hupig’s Pie from Up in Smoke
Pork Frito Pie from Blue Oak BBQ
Dark Chocolate Bacon Cupcakes from Seymour Butts. This is one of my favorite samplings!
Frey Smoked Meat Co.’s Hogaritaville at Hogs for the Cause
Notorious P.I.G. at Hogs for the Cause
Mr. Pigglesworth at Hogs for the Cause
Up in Smoke at Hogs for the Cause
Swineaux at Hogs for the Cause
The Swine Spectators at Hogs for the Cause

Friday is Bacon night, and Saturday is the main competition.

The food is outstanding. Of course, we get the ribs and pull pork at a few spots. However, we don’t stop there. One of our favorite dishes was the pork and apple pie that is deep fried. We have enjoyed ice cream with candied bacon on top. One of my favorites is pulled pork nachos except instead of chips they use pork rinds. And of course, I have to get a bag (or six) of cracklin’!

The Cause

While this is a BBQ festival, it is also a fantastic charity event. The money goes to fight pediatric brain cancer. If you follow, Hogs for the Cause on twitter, you can see some of the checks they deliver to such deserving families. You can contribute even if you don’t go by clicking here!

The Music

Some of the musicians that will be there include:

Trampled by Turtles
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
The War & Treaty
Samantha Fish
Hot 8 Brass Band

The organizers have some of the best musical taste around. So even if you haven’t heard any of these artists, you should go check them out!

Tickets

You can purchase tickets here.

Where and When

Hogs for the Cause 2019 will be held at 6801 Franklin Ave, New Orleans, LA 70122 from March 29 to 30. In other words, it will be held at the UNO Lakefront Arena.

Kurt Hargis

I'm a husband to a woman who is nerdier than I am, and a father to a near perfect child. I am one of the main authors for this website, plus I handle most of the technical aspects (web design, editing podcasts, and videos, etc.) During the day, I'm a Computer Science and African American Studies Teacher. Most of my free time I'm listening to music or podcasts and watching soccer. I love Star Wars and Star Trek equally. I'm a horrible gamer yet I game. You can reach me at nolanerdcouple@gmail.com