AGP Executive Report

WWE in Louisiana: Money in the Bank brought ladder-match drama to New Orleans, where Penta and Tiffany Stratton won briefcases and Liv Morgan reclaimed the women’s world title. The following night, Raw landed in Bossier City. Cajun Celebrations: Larose’s French Food Festival returns Oct. 23–25 with Cajun food, live music, carnival rides and cultural exhibits. Sorrento’s Boucherie & Balloon Festival is set for Oct. 16–18, while Crowley’s International Rice Festival returns this weekend. Arts Legacy: Marion McCollam, who helped build the Arts Council of New Orleans into a major force for local culture, has died at 95. Rare portraits by a pioneering Louisiana artist are now on display in New Orleans. Louisiana Music: Kenner-raised Jon Batiste reflects on his roots and musical journey in a new “60 Minutes” profile; a Louisiana native is also pursuing a music career on NBC’s “The Voice.”

What’s On: New Orleans’ Oct. 12–18 lineup includes dance company Pilobolus, Modest Mouse, $uicideboy$ and performances from local dance, opera and classical music groups. Festival Sounds: The 20th Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival brought live music to Lafayette Square, while Festival Acadiens celebrated Cajun music, food and French traditions. Louisiana Art: Two paintings by a portraitist believed to have been a free man of color are now on display in New Orleans; an Acadiana-born playwright is also bringing an acclaimed play home. Coming Up: Burna Boy will headline halftime at the Saints’ NFL Paris game on Oct. 25.

Festival Sounds: Lafayette’s 20th Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival brought Kenny Brown, Mia Borders, Terrance Simien and headliner Booker T. Jones to Lafayette Square. In St. George, the first Sundays in St. George paired live music from Phat Hat with food vendors and local artists. Cajun & Creole Traditions: Festival Acadiens et Créoles filled Lafayette’s Girard Park with Cajun and Creole music, French, food and dancing, carrying on a tradition that began in 1974. What’s On: New Orleans’ week ahead includes indie rockers Modest Mouse at the Fillmore on Oct. 13, hometown duo $uicideboy$ at the Smoothie King Center on Oct. 14, and modern dance company Pilobolus at the Mahalia Jackson Theater on Oct. 17. Louisiana Music: Kenner-raised Jon Batiste says he makes “social music,” blending genres to bring people together.

WWE in New Orleans: Money in the Bank packed the Smoothie King Center on Saturday. Liv Morgan won the Women’s World Championship, while Tiffany Stratton and Penta claimed briefcases for future title shots; Roman Reigns retained his title. CM Punk also paid tribute to late New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert. Louisiana Art: Two newly acquired 1835 portraits by Julien Hudson, New Orleans’ first native-born portraitist and a free man of color, are now on display at The Historic New Orleans Collection. Creole Music: Lafayette-born Marcella Simien and her Grammy-winning father, Terrance, shared family history and musical traditions at Acadiana Center for the Arts. Coming Up: “The Voice” alum Dustin Gaspard performs Oct. 16 in Lafayette at a benefit concert supporting UL music scholarships. Culture & Community: Tamborine & Fan is working to revive the New Orleans youth organization founded by Mardi Gras Indian leader Jerome “Big Duck” Smith, carrying on its music, sewing and cultural programs.**

WWE in New Orleans: Roman Reigns retained his world title against LA Knight at Money in the Bank, closing out a high-energy night at the Smoothie King Center. Cult-Movie Tradition: Uptown’s Prytania Theatre keeps “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” lively with monthly screenings, a live shadow cast and plenty of flying toast. Louisiana Music: Composers Now kicks off its 15th anniversary season at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, while Revivalists frontman David Shaw reflects on the band’s latest album. Fall Arts & Events: A guide to Festivals Acadiens et Créoles highlights its music lineup and new features; New Orleans is also gearing up for Halloween events around town. Louisiana on Screen: A new series focused on Cajun life and culture is set to reach national audiences in November, while a planned 50 Cent studio project in Shreveport is working through hurdles.

Festival Weekend: Festivals Acadiens et Créoles fills Lafayette’s Girard Park with Cajun and Creole music, arts and food through Sunday; plan on about $10–$18 for a few snacks. On Stage: WWE’s Money in the Bank lands in New Orleans tonight, with Roman Reigns facing LA Knight and two ladder matches on the card. Local Culture: Baton Rouge’s St. Garabed Armenian Church welcomes visitors Sunday for music, cultural exhibits, food and church tours. Fall Fun: New Orleans’ Halloween season is underway, with events across the city and City Park’s Ghosts in the Oaks set for Oct. 15–18. Shreveport Studios: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson says work on his production studio is moving again after drainage fixes cleared a construction hurdle.

Live & Local: WWE SmackDown brought its Money in the Bank buildup to Lafayette’s Cajundome, while Sulphur’s John Bridges marked nearly 50 years announcing the high school’s homecoming court. Arts & Music: LSU hosted a printmaking conference exploring tactile art in the age of AI, and a Baton Rouge record-store jam showcased a rotating lineup of musicians. Festivals: A guide to Festivals Acadiens et Créoles highlights its music lineup and new features; meanwhile, Que Pasa Fest was canceled as Hurricane Isaias threatened the Gulf Coast. Screen & Stage: A New Orleans theater is keeping its 50-year “Rocky Horror” tradition alive, and AMC’s new Mayfair Witches trailer sends the Louisiana-rooted series to Salem.

Storm & Festivals: Hurricane Isaias strengthened to Category 3 as it headed toward the Gulf Coast, with storm surge possible from southeast Louisiana eastward. Que Pasa Fest, one of Louisiana’s biggest Hispanic festivals, was canceled because of the storm. Live Entertainment: WWE’s Money in the Bank comes to New Orleans on Saturday, with ladder matches and championship bouts; the event streams on Netflix. Music & Culture: The free 2026 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest announced a lineup featuring Samantha Fish, Booker T. and Ruthie Foster. Shreveport’s Red River Revel celebrates its 50th year downtown. Stage & Screen: New Orleans’ Rocky Horror tradition keeps going at the Prytania Theatre, where live shadow casts and audience participation have drawn fans for decades. Martha Graham Dance Company brings a century of dance history to Lafayette’s Heymann Center.

Festival Update: Que Pasa Fest, a major celebration of Latin American food, music and culture in the New Orleans area, has been canceled because of Hurricane Isaias; organizers have not announced a new date. Live Music: The free 2026 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival features Samantha Fish, Booker T. and Ruthie Foster. Dance: The Martha Graham Dance Company brings a century of dance history to Lafayette’s Heymann Center. Arts: Shreveport’s Red River Revel marks its 50th anniversary, while Louisiana Tech’s School of Design presents its Degrees of Art exhibition in Ruston. Coming to New Orleans: “Dancing with the Stars Live” arrives at the Smoothie King Center on March 11, with tickets on sale October 13.

Art & Exhibitions: LSU Vet Med’s 32nd International Exhibition on Animals in Art opens Saturday with a public reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The show features 60 works and runs through Nov. 6. Northeast Louisiana Arts Council is also inviting artists to propose work for a collection at Meta’s Richland Parish data center; submissions close Nov. 9. This Weekend: Baton Rouge’s calendar includes Friday’s BBQ & Blues fundraiser for the Baton Rouge Blues Festival, plus live music, food and fall activities at Pumpkins & Pirogues in Plaquemine. WWE’s Money in the Bank comes to New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center on Saturday. Festivals & Film: Shreveport’s Red River Revel marks its 50th anniversary, while the 13th Gate in Baton Rouge landed on a national list of the country’s five scariest haunted attractions. Top of the Boot Music Festival brings two days of country music to Natchitoches Oct. 16-17.**

Community Festivals: Jefferson Parish’s oldest festival, the Gumbo Festival, returns Oct. 9–11 at the Westwego Farmers and Fisheries Market for its second year in a new home, carrying on a nearly 60-year tradition. Film & Culture: Shreveport’s Sci-Port Discovery Center is opening Film-Port, an interactive exhibit on movie history and filmmaking, with green-screen, stop-motion and sound effects stations. Lafayette Live: Festivals Acadiens et Créoles takes over Girard Park Oct. 9–11 with free Cajun and Creole music, food, crafts and cultural demonstrations; a related symposium is set for Oct. 9 at the Hilliard Art Museum. On Stage: WWE brings Money in the Bank to New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center on Oct. 10, with Roman Reigns, LA Knight and two ladder matches on the card. Cajun Culture: A new series spotlighting Cajun life and culture is set to air nationally in November.

Cajun Culture: Louisiana’s new Cajun Lifestyle Network is taking South Louisiana stories nationwide: flagship series Out Da Bayou begins airing on Field & Stream TV and Pursuit Channel in November. On the Calendar: The Zwolle Tamale Fiesta celebrates its 50th year Oct. 8–10, bringing music, food and regional heritage to northwest Louisiana. New Orleans’ Oktoberfest returns this month at Deutsches Haus, with three weekends of beer, food and music starting Oct. 9. Film & Arts: Sci-Port Discovery Center’s new FilmPort exhibition spotlights the regional movie industry. In Metairie, New Orleans native classical guitarist Brian King gives a free concert Oct. 22 at East Bank Regional Library. More to See: Brooks & Dunn bring their Neon Moon Tour to Lafayette’s Cajundome Oct. 8, while Lake Charles hosts Travis Tritt Oct. 10. New Orleans’ Krewe of Boo is planning its Halloween parade, and the Black Heritage Festival has announced a major 2027 lineup. Louisiana Roots: Tim McGraw marked 30 years of marriage to Faith Hill, recalling their 1996 wedding beneath a tree in Rayville. Harry Connick Jr.’s new book and orchestral work, Babe: Elaboratorio, pays tribute to his late mother, Anita.

Halloween in New Orleans: The Krewe of Boo returns as the city’s official Halloween parade, rolling Saturday, Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. from Elysian Fields Avenue to Andrew Higgins Drive. Saints on the rebound: New Orleans looks to regroup after a 45-24 Monday Night Football loss to the Falcons on the 20th anniversary of Superdome reopening, with coach Kellen Moore saying the team showed up Tuesday “to get things right.” Gulf weather watch: Tropical disturbance/Depression Nine is organizing in the Gulf with possible impacts starting Friday into Saturday, and Louisiana high school games across the region are shifting to Thursday. Local sports schedule shakeups: Tangipahoa and other parishes moved multiple Week 6 matchups due to the storm threat, including Destrehan at Thibodaux and Terrebonne at Hahnville to Thursday. Arts & entertainment: Hardhide is launching new Southern Whiskey Cocktails in cans (Strawberry Whiskey Lemonade and Peach Whiskey Iced Tea). Business/industry: A shipment of about 15,000 tons of Venezuelan aluminum arrived at a Louisiana port, and SpaceX is proposing a new cargo facility in Vermilion Parish. Community events: The Black Heritage Festival of Louisiana announced a major 2027 lineup, with the big concert set for March 13 at Sudduth Coliseum.

Falcons-Saints Monday Night Football: Atlanta dominated New Orleans 45-24 behind Bijan Robinson’s 59-yard opener and 145 yards with two TDs, plus Brian Robinson Jr.’s three scores and a Falcons defense that set the tone early. Local Sports Buzz: The Week 4 fallout is already driving Week 5 attention, with Lamar Jackson’s ankle status reported as uncertain for Baltimore’s Sunday night trip to Atlanta. Arts & Community: SONIC is rolling out a Louisiana Blue Pelican slush statewide with Keep Louisiana Beautiful, while Southeastern Louisiana University’s Fanfare festival keeps the fall arts/humanities calendar moving with lectures and concerts. Health & Home: Mold Shield Restoration launched a free online Mold Risk Check for homeowners, and a Louisiana teen’s “Transit” mobile clothing bus is turning streetwear into a traveling pop-up across the Gulf South. Music Night Out: Preservation Hall’s Wendell Brunious headlines “New Orleans Legends” at the Dew Drop in Mandeville on Oct. 10.

Saints Domecoming 20th Anniversary: New Orleans fans packed Champions Square and the Superdome to mark 20 years since the Saints returned after Hurricane Katrina, with Irma Thomas invited back to sing the anthem again and broadcasters like Mike Tirico getting emotional about what sports meant to the city. Steve Gleason’s Legacy: Gleason returned to the Dome for the anniversary of his iconic blocked punt, now living with ALS and communicating through a tablet—his story is tied to the “rebirth” moment that still defines Saints-Falcons lore. Monday Night Football, Local Stakes: The Saints host the Falcons at 8:15 p.m. on ESPN, with New Orleans carrying the home edge while both teams deal with injuries, including Saints linebacker absences and a Falcons offense led by Michael Penix Jr. Weather Watch (Acadiana): A Gulf disturbance has an 80% chance to develop into a tropical system within a week, with heavy rain possible for Acadiana this weekend—timing that overlaps Festivals Acadiens et Créoles. Prep Sports on TV: Mandeville vs. Dominican volleyball airs Tuesday on Crescent City Sports. Arts & Entertainment: WWE Money in the Bank lands Saturday at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, and Disney’s teen supernatural hit “Coven Academy” is drawing big streaming buzz.

Saints–Falcons Domecoming anniversary: New Orleans hosts Atlanta on Monday Night Football at 8:15 p.m., marking 20 years since the Superdome reopened after Hurricane Katrina—plus a spotlight on Steve Gleason’s 15-year ALS journey and his iconic punt block that helped ignite the rivalry. Local civic life: Northshore Media Group and the Tangipahoa Chamber are holding a free Hammond mayoral and 21st Judicial DA candidate forum Wednesday, Oct. 7, with live broadcast and streaming. Arts & culture: Hunt Slonem’s “Aurora Rift” earns NYC Big Book Award recognition and a Times Square billboard feature; and Casita Maria’s Fiesta 2026 honors Slonem as part of its arts education celebration. Community remembrance: St. Tammany Health System’s inaugural “Walking with Angels” drew 200+ for a walk of remembrance for pediatric losses. Fashion spotlight: Dillard’s launches the Hadley Greene x Gianni Bini fall 2026 collaboration, tying the designer’s Baton Rouge roots to a maximalist style. Health & safety: A Gatorade recall affects 122,021 cases in Louisiana and 36 other states due to undeclared Yellow No. 6/possibly Yellow No. 5. Sports entertainment: Gypsy Rose Blanchard launches “Kenan’s Law” to push back on online harassment after Ken Urker’s death.