After a weather-delayed kickoff, loyal NOLA Gold fans were treated to a rollercoaster of a match that ended with a well-earned 44-36 victory over the Seattle Seawolves at the Shrine. This win moved NOLA Gold into 3rd place in the Major League Rugby Eastern Conference standings. Coach Danny Lee said of the team's response to the delay, “We just had to control the controllables. Once we told the boys the definitive time for kickoff, we had a plan ready to go. In terms of game plan, we had to be a little bit more direct, and we had to kick and adapt quickly.” NOLA Gold set the tone early, taking an initial 3-0 lead thanks to a steady penalty kick from Dorian Jones. Though Seattle answered quickly with a try to make it 7-3, the Gold launched into a dominant scoring stretch. Isaac Te Tamaki powered across the try line to ignite the offense, followed by back-to-back tries from the relentless Jonah Mau’u. Jones continued to add points from the tee, stretching the Gold’s lead to 27-7. Just before halftime, the Seawolves found a breakthrough and scored at the buzzer, narrowing the margin to 27-14. However, NOLA emerged from the locker room with purpose. Xavier Mignot wasted no time reestablishing momentum with a try that pushed the lead to 34-14. Seattle fought back with intensity, capitalizing on back-to-back tries to bring the score to 34-24. But NOLA responded with composure, as Jones added another penalty to keep the visitors at bay, 37-24. The closing stages of the match saw both teams exchanging blows. Seattle’s try was met by a decisive moment from Joe Taufete’e, who muscled through defenders for a critical score. Luke Campbell’s conversion extended the lead to 44-29. Though Seattle scored one final try at the buzzer, it wasn’t enough. With a final score of 44-36, NOLA Gold walked away with a crucial five-point win in front of a roaring home crowd and strengthens their postseason hopes with a firm grip on 3rd place in the East. Their next match will be on the road against the San Diego Legion on May 4th at 4:00 PM CT. For tickets and more details, please visit www.nolagoldrugby.com

The 10th annual Covington Antiques & Uniques Festival will be held this Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, at the Covington Trailhead Museum. This two-day, juried festival features over 60 vendors offering an eclectic mix of antique furnishings, period collectibles, architectural salvage, and vintage-inspired fine crafts, as well as a live auction, car show, good food, music, and more. The Covington Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to preserve the city’s culture, character and community. Founded in 2015, the festival is coordinated with the support of the City’s Department of Cultural Arts and Events. As the festival grows and evolves each year, their goal remains the same- to offer a first-class juried event that reflects the unique charm and history of the city of Covington. The festival is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. For more details, please visit https://www.covingtonheritagefoundation.com/

The NOLA Gold will hit the road for a showdown against the Houston SaberCats on Saturday, April 19, 2025, beginning at 7:00 PM CT. The matchup against Houston is expected to be an intense one, with both squads vying for playoff positioning as the MLR season heats up. Fans can catch all of tonight's action live on the Gulf Coast Sports and Entertainment Network (Cox Cable Channel 10) and ESPN+, or follow along in real time through NOLA Gold Rugby’s social media channels and official website. After their trip to Houston, NOLA Gold will return home to the Shrine on Airline for a matchup against the Seattle Seawolves on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 3:00 PM CT. Tickets for upcoming home matches are available now at nolagoldrugby.com.

The 2025 Crescent City Classic will take place this Saturday, April 19th starting at 8 a.m. The Classic is the New Orleans and Gulf South's premier 10k road race, and one of the oldest 10k races in the nation. This Easter weekend tradition along with Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, is one of New Orleans signature events. Every year, over 20,000 people gather in Downtown New Orleans for an event that attracts everyone from international elite athletes to those who walk the entire route carrying cocktails or wearing bunny suits. Young, old, fit and not so, the Crescent City Classic is the most fun you can have over 6.2 miles. For over 40 years, it has combined world class competition, amateur participation and great fun for all participants. Starting in 1979 with 902 participants, the Crescent City Classic has grown to become the preeminent fitness event in Louisiana. All CCC events are produced by the Crescent City Classic Foundation, a not-for-profit entity whose sole purpose is to promote health, fitness, and a better lifestyle for the people of the New Orleans metropolitan area. The “Run For It” Program is the Official Charity Program of the Crescent City Classic. The goal of the “Run For It” Program is to raise $1 million annually and serve the Greater New Orleans area. Each year, the Crescent City Classic Foundation selects local charities to support and partner with for the 10k race. No matter who crosses the finish line first, everyone wins! For more information about the Crescent City Classic and to register for the race, please visit www.ccc10k.com

The 40th annual French Quarter Easter Parade will roll this Sunday, April 20 at 1 p.m. in New Orleans. The historic Easter parade was originally named after Chris Owens, the iconic Bourbon Street entertainer. Every year, Owens presided over the parade until her passing in 2022. The parade will begin at the corner of St. Louis and Royal in front of Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, turning right on Bourbon to Gov. Nicholls Street to Decatur, and conclude on St. Louis and Royal at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. The parade will be complete with colorful floats, marching bands, beads, Easter trinkets, and plenty of eager revelers. In addition to the Easter parade and celebrations, there will also be a silent auction, music, and hat contest held at the Omni Royal Orleans Grand Ballroom, starting at 11 a.m. The silent auction helps raise money to support music education in New Orleans. Following the parade, the fun will continue with a champagne brunch and live music by David Cook and The Yat Pack. For more information on the parade and silent auction, please visit www.frenchquartereasterparade.com

The Zurich Classic swings into New Orleans on April 21 through April 27, 2025. Established in 1958, the Zurich Classic is a professional golf tournament that is held in Louisiana on the PGA Tour, at TPC Louisiana in Avondale. The Fore!Kids Foundation hosts the Zurich Classic to help raise money to fund various children’s service organizations. Since it was established in 1958, Fore!Kids has raised over $45 million through golf events – like the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the Golf Ball Gala, a kids’ summer junior tour, and several charitable golf tournaments to help provide healthcare, education and hope for over 200,000 children each year. Individual day tickets are $45 and all-inclusive tickets "Best of the Zurich Classic" are $185. All tickets to the Zurich Classic are via mobile entry only. Children 15 and under are admitted free at the front gate with a ticketed adult. Public p arking is $20 per day. For more details, please visit https://zurichgolfclassic.com/

This year's Hogs for the Cause in New Orleans was one of the best yet. The two-day sold-out event held on April 4th and 5th raised a record-shattering $5.25 million to help fight pediatric brain cancer. The new record surpasses last year's $4.3 million raised. Becker Hall, CEO and Co-Founder of Hogs for the Cause said, "I’m amazed by the monumental generosity and compassion of our fans, teams, sponsors, and staff. The amount of good we will achieve with these funds is staggering. I want to thank everyone who made this possible. Thank you.” Founded in 2009, Hogs for the Cause has become the premier nationwide source of funding for families with children fighting pediatric brain cancer through the amazing efforts of their teams and fans. They work with both local and national children’s hospitals, including Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, Ochsner Hospital for Children, Duke Children’s Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Children’s Hospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, and Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, to offer monetary relief to families with children who have brain cancer. To learn more about Hogs for the Cause or to donate, please visit https://hogsfest.org/