Inside Scoop - July/August 2024

Inside Scoop

JULY

Light Up the Lake Independence Day Celebration

Wednesday, July 3

The celebration features a patriotic tribute, live music, a kids tent, photo booth, and a brilliant fireworks show to close the night. Guests are invited to picnic in the lakefront park beginning at 10 a.m. with fireworks beginning at 8:30 p.m.The event is free and open to the public.

Lakeshore Drive between Coffee and Carroll Streets, Mandeville, (985) 6243148, ExperienceMandeville.org

Middendorf’s 90th Birthday Celebration

July 3-7

This July 4th, Middendorf turns 90! To celebrate this milestone, they will be hosting a full week of fun activities at both its original Manchac location and its second location in Slidell. For a complete list of the week’s event, visit MiddendorfsRestaurant.com.

1951 Oak Harbor Blvd., Slidell, (985) 771-7777, middendorfsrestaurant.com

Olde Towne Slidell 4th of July Celebration

Thursday, July 4, 12 p.m.

Enjoy great food, cooling zones, kids activities and live music at three locations, and a fireworks show at dusk. Bring your lawn chairs to this family friendly event, but please leave ice chests at home. Vendors will be on site with delicious food and beverages.

2200 Block of Carey St., Slidell, (985) 285-4415, facebook.com/OldeTowneSlidell

Abita Springs 4th of July Celebration

Thursday, July 4, 2-9:30 p.m

Bring your chairs, blankets, family and friends to the Abita Springs Trailhead Park for the town’s 4th of July Celebration! The festival features military appreciations, live music, fireworks, food and more. Admission is free. No outside food or drinks.

22044 Main St., Abita Springs, (985) 892-0711, www.townofabitasprings.com

Madisonville Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration

Thursday, July 4, 10 a.m.

The Town of Madisonville and Keep Madisonville Beautiful invite you to the “Old-Fashioned 4th of July” on the banks of the Tchefuncte River. The celebration begins with kids’ games, cornhole and horseshoe tournaments, a Veterans’ Salute, watermelon eating and rooster crowing contests, a pie bake-off, and fireworks all on the waterfront in front of the old town hall. Bring your chairs, coolers and picnic baskets and find a spot on the riverfront to enjoy the fun! The day of family fun closes with fireworks at dusk (about 8:45 p.m.).

Water Street, Madisonville, facebook.com/madisonvilleoldfashioned4thofjuly

Southern Nights Soirée

Friday, July 12, 7 p.m.

The St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce presents its annual summer fundraiser, “Southern Nights Soirée”. Guests will enjoy an evening of food from Northshore’s finest restaurants, entertaining casino games, live and silent auctions, and an open bar for a great night out. Secure your tickets today. Admission is $150 for a single ticket, $250 per couple and $2,000 for 10 VIP tickets with reserved seating and other perks.

The Greystone, 935 Clausel St., Mandeville, (985) 273-3007, sttammanychamber.org/annual-events/#168261779388249c0721d-f010

Sizzling Christmas in July

Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m.

A blazing event with a touch of Christmas Magic! Join Southern Handmade Crafters for a fun-filled day of shopping at Mandeville Lion’s Club. Vendors will have jewelry, boutique clothing, pickles, jams, tumblers, wood crafts and much more.

720 Lafitte St., Mandeville, (985) 630-7324, fb.me/e/1A2UTTdXa

Playmakers Theater presents Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance”

July 13-28, Saturdays, 7p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.

Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilarious, hopeful farce follows young Frederic, an orphan who has mistakenly been apprenticed to an ineffectual but raucous band of pirates. He disavows the pirates’ way of life and falls for the beautiful Mabel. Frederic’s melodious tones win over the heart of Major-General Stanley’s songbird daughter, Mabel, but when the Pirate King discovers that General Stanley has lied about being an orphan to keep the pirates from stealing all of his belongings and carrying off his bevy of beautiful daughters, an “ingenious paradox” may prevent the budding romance and lead to the death of “The very model of a modern Major-General.” Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for students.

19106 Playmakers Rd., Covington, (985) 893-1671, bontempstix.com/organizations/playmakers-theater-ofcovington

Northshore Cajun Dance at Abita Town Hall

July 13 and August 10, 7 p.m.

Come “pass a good time” to Cajun/Zydeco music at Abita Town Hall. The event includes free dance lessons, 7-7:30 p.m., with live music performance beginning at 8 p.m. Admission is $12 for age 18 and up ($10 for members of Northshore Cajun Dancers Club), free for kids 12 and under. A one-year membership (January to December) is $15, and includes a Christmas dinner dance in December as well as discounted admission to each dance.

Abita Town Hall, 22161 Level St., Abita Springs , (504) 583-8603, northshorecajundancers.com

Bernard Mattox: The Kantian Bridge Works – Chapter 2

July 13-August 30

The Atrium Gallery at Christwood presents Bernard Mattox: The Kantian Bridge Works – Chapter 2. The public is invited to an opening reception on Saturday, July 13, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Admission is free. The gallery is regularly open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

100 Christwood Blvd., Covington, (985) 898-0515, facebook.com/theatriumgallery

The Lobby Lounge @ The Harbor Center: Symone French & The Trouille Troupe

Tuesday, July 16, 7-9 p.m.

Join your friends at The Harbor Center in Slidell for the next “Up Close and Musical” concert featuring Symone French & The Trouille Troupe. The concert series features nationally touring acts throughout the year, focusing on artists from the worlds of indie rock, folk, country, jazz, blues and more. Performances are acoustic or lightly amplified, in a Bohemian-style, smoke-free, 124-seat venue. Tickets are $20-$100 (plus sales tax and fees). Admission to Lobby Lounge concerts is in advance only online.

100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell, (985) 781-3650, eventbrite.com/e/symone-french-live-at-the-lobby-loungetickets-742551109357

Kokomo Stroll

July 20, 6-8 p.m.

Flip flops and boat drinks will be plentiful as crowds fill the downtown streets to taste the most scrumptious summer cocktails and craft beers served by twenty-four local CBA businesses, as well as food samples from six vendor tents. Patrons will enjoy beach-themed activities; and live music, and more as they stop at 30 outdoor tents to sample all food and beverages. Kokomo Stroll cups are $45* and is your ticket to the event and are available to purchase online. Check in and pick up your pre-purchased stroll cup at Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire St, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Historic Downtown Covington, (504) 439-2543, kokomostroll.com

St. Anselm Catholic Church’s 16th Annual Jewel of Madisonville Gala

Saturday, July 20, 7-11 p.m.

Don’t miss St. Anselm’s 16th Annual Jewel of Madisonville Gala! Enjoy a night full of cocktails, good food, dancing & fun. Specialty food will be provided by more than thirty St. Tammany restaurants. Live music for dancing by Three37 Band. Silent and Live auctions will be happening and so much more! The night’s big winner will be taking home a 2024 GMC Terrain Denali, valued at $40,000, donated by Rainbow Northshore Buick GMC. Tickets start at $60, multiple packages available.

Castine Center, 63350 Pelican Dr., Mandeville, (985) 845-7342, stanselmparish.org

HERPS Slidell Exotic Reptile and Pet Show

July 20-21

The HERPS Exotic Reptile and Pet Show hosts vendors with thousands of reptiles, amphibians, inverts, feeders, supplies and more in this two-day event. Check out the educational section for a handson experience with some of the most exotic reptiles and animals on the planet. Concessions will be available both days and admission is, for age 13 and up, $10 for one day, $15 two days; for age 5-12, $5 for one day, $8, two days; 4 and under, free.

100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell, (979) 595-7831, herpshow.net/shows/reptile-show-in-slidell-la/

United Way of Southeast Louisiana West St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cook-Off

Monday, July 29, 11 a.m.

Each year on the last Monday in July, the Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cook-Off in Covington marks the official kick-off of the United Way fundraising campaign in West St. Tammany Parish. The funds raised at this annual event support suicide prevention, mental health services and other United Way programs in St. Tammany Parish. Enjoy all-you-can-eat red beans and rice by 16-24 cooking teams as they compete for Best Red Beans & Rice and People’s Choice. Admission is $10 at the gate.

317 N. Jefferson Ave., Covington, (985) 778-0815, unitedwaysela.org/redbeans

AUGUST

Tammany Taste of Summer

August 1-31

St. Tammany Parish businesses are turning up the heat for the 7th year of Tammany Taste of Summer, delivering delicious deals on dining, hotel stays, attractions, and more. Go to TammanyTaste.com to check out all the great dining deals on The Northshore throughout the month of August.

Various Businesses Across St. Tammany, (985) 892-0520, TammanyTaste.com

White Linen & Lagniappe

August 3, 6 p.m.

Time to don those cool summer whites for Slidell’s annual White Linen & Lagniappe! Featuring live music and entertainment, fine art by local artists, after-hours shopping, hot food and cool drinks, signature White Linen Night cocktails, the Ice Box Pie Contest at the Front St. Marketplace (judging at 6:15 p.m.), and much more.

2055 Second St., Slidell, (985) 646-4375, facebook.com/cityofslidell

United Way of Southeast Louisiana East St. Tammany Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cook-Off

August 5, 11 a.m.

Each year on the first Monday in August, the Red Beans ‘N’ Rice Cook-Off in Slidell marks the official kick-off of the United Way fundraising campaign in East St. Tammany Parish. The funds raised at this annual event support suicide prevention, mental health services and other United Way programs in St. Tammany Parish. Enjoy all-you-can-eat red beans and rice by 16-24 cooking teams as they compete for Best Red Beans & Rice and People’s Choice. Admission is $10 at the gate.

701 Cleveland Ave., Slidell, (504) 234-8599, unitedwaysela.org/redbeans

Boots vs Badges 2024

Tuesday, August 13, 8 a.m.

Bring out the family to cheer on our local first responders as they battle it out for the title of the 2024 Boots vs Badges softball tournament. This year’s event will feature fun for the whole family with inflatable, touch a truck, food trucks and more! This is a free event but donations are welcomed. All money raised will benefit the Miracle League Northshore.

13505 Hwy. 1085, Covington, (504) 301-7614, flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjA4MTYx

FanUp Pep Rally Luncheon Presented by Silver Slipper

Wednesday, August 14 , 11:30 a.m.

The Saints 2024-2025 football season is just around the corner! Join the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce at The Sadie Jane for the Fan Up Pep Rally Luncheon sponsored by Silver Slipper Casino. Hear guest speaker Mike Detillier discuss the upcoming football season and enjoy a delicious lunch provided by The Sadie Jane. Tickets are $63 for Chamber members, $75 for prospective members and $500 for a reserved table of eight.

The Sadie Jane, 405 Country Club Blvd., Slidell, (985) 237-3007, sttammanychamber.org/annualevents/#1624031852743-64df6142-e4ef

New Orleans Saints Fan Up Pep Rally

Thursday, August 15, 4-7 p.m.

Presented by the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, the Fan Up Pep Rally is the Northshore’s largest indoor pep rally celebrating the start of the 2024-2025 Saints Football season with great food, drinks, music and a chance to win a pair of Plaza Level 2024 Saints’ season tickets...all included with ticket purchase. Event tickets are $20 per person age 10 and up, kids under 10 admitted free.

Slidell Municipal Auditorium, 2056 Second St., Slidell, (985) 273-3007, business.sttammanychamber.org/events/details/fan-up-pep-rally-6611

Covington White Linen for Public Art

August 17, 6-9 p.m.

Covington White Linen for Public Art, presented by the Covington Business Association, celebrates the close of summer with a free soirée in downtown Covington. Local art galleries, shops, restaurants and bars will also be open for business, providing special attractions and beverages for patrons to enjoy, as well as live music after hours. Like other “white linen” events in the region, patrons are encouraged to don their white summer attire.

409 E. Boston St., Covington, (504) 236-8827, covingtonpublicart.org

Q50 Races Bleau Moon 5 & 10 Miles

Saturday, August 17, starting at 8:15 p.m.

The Q50 Races “Bleau Moon” 5 & 10 Miler is a unique trail event. It happens at night! The annual run through beautiful Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville is a fast, flat course alongside Lake Pontchartrain. Entry fees for racers are, for the 5-Miler, $50 ($60 after July 19), and for the 10-Miler, $60 ($70 after July 19). Proceeds of the event benefit the New Orleans Mission shelter and the children housed through the Mission. As this is a nighttime race, a headlamp (and batteries) and mosquito repellent are a must, a whistle is strongly recommended, and runners should be prepared for hot weather. Registration/packet pick-up is 6:30-8 p.m.

62883 Hwy. 1089, Mandeville, (504) 390-8807, ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=113903

Lakeview Hospital Health Pop-Up

Wednesday, August 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

This event is a health-centered event where members of the community are invited to participate in complementary health screenings and interactive education demonstrations to explore their overall health and well-being. While you are there, shop local small businesses’ pop-ups for a fun shopping experience to include jewelry, clothing, and more.

95 Judge Tanner Blvd., Covington, (985) 867-3800, llcmchealth.org/lakeview-hospital/