LOUISIANA FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

The latest fair and festival news from New Orleans and Louisiana

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At Jamie DeBree's house, grass skirts, palm trees and parrots pass for Halloween decorations.

That's because she always chooses a theme for her adults-only Halloween party after checking out catalogues, Web sites and party stores. This year she announced the theme, "Get Shipwrecked on Treasure Island," by mailing invitees a message in a bottle.

Having a theme "gives you something to focus around for food and decorations," the 33-year-old said. "It's also helps our guests. It gives our guests costume ideas."

A daily highlight from today's festival calendar. Today's pick:

Virginie Ledoyne, Emmanuel Mouret and Frederique Bel in the romantic comedy 'Shall We Kiss?'

"SHALL WE KISS? (UN BAISER S'IL VOUS PLAIT?)"
7:15 p.m., Prytania Theatre

The new romantic comedy from the young French triple-threat Emmanuel Mouret -- who wrote, directs and stars here -- looks like an easy one to embrace. Built upon one woman's reluctance to accept a goodnight kiss from her date -- and her story as to why -- it's been charming les pants off critics and movie-goers as it tours the film-festival circuit and plays in limited release. In French, with English subtitles.

Here's a rundown of today's full festival lineup:

A daily highlight from today's festival calendar. Today's pick:

Waylon Payne as Hank Garland in the drama 'Crazy.'

"CRAZY"
5:30 p.m., Prytania

You might not have heard of guitarist Hank Garland -- a sessions player who was part of what became known as "Nashville's A-Team" -- but you've almost certainly heard him if you've heard Roy Orbison or Patsy Cline or Dave Brubeck or Elvis Presley or any number of other musicians. This intriguing indie drama recounts the life of the man whose trouble-making reputation was outshined only by his talent. The well-decorated film, which co-stars a pre-"Heroes" Ali Larter, is among the most heavily decorated film scheduled to screen at the festival.

Here's a rundown of today's full festival lineup:

Houma guitarist Tab Benoit host this weekend's Voice of the Wetlands Festival in Houma.

Is Mother Nature for or against Tab Benoit?

For years, the Houma guitarist's Voice of the Wetlands organization has advocated for the restoration of Louisiana's coast. To promote the cause, Benoit and his all-star band performed during the recent Democratic and Republican national conventions -- just as Hurricane Gustav slammed his hometown.

For an encore, the lingering effects of Hurricane Ike nearly scuttled this weekend's Voice of the Wetlands Festival, Benoit's annual party with a purpose in Houma.

If his goal is to emphasize how wetlands loss has left south Louisiana more vulnerable to storms, he couldn't have planned a more dramatic story line.

A daily highlight from today's festival calendar. Today's pick:

Musician Lou Reed in director Julian Schnabel's concert doc 'Lou Reed's Berlin.'

"Lou Reed's Berlin"
11:15 p.m., Canal Place Cinema

We know director Julian Schnabel has an eye for visuals, based on his best-director nomination last year for "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." And we know music legend Lou Reed has an ear for poetry, as evidenced by ... well, his whole career. Here the two collide in an acclaimed concert documentary, focusing on a live performance by Reed of his 1973 concept album "Berlin." It originally saw a limited release this summer, but it has never played on the big-screen in New Orleans -- until now.

Here's a rundown of today's full festival lineup:

Louisiana area festivals for June of 2009