Confetti Park

In a recent episode of Confetti Park, host Katy Hobgood sat down with Alison Toussaint-LeBeaux to discuss her beautiful new children's book about her dad—New Orleans musical legend Allen Toussaint. It's called  The Prince of New Orleans: The Life of Allen Toussaint. "When my dad first passed, I was just thinking I certainly didn't want him to be forgotten. And not that I was really afraid of that,...

If you've ever strolled by Jackson Square on a humid morning, you know that smell—the intoxicating, sugary scent of fresh fried dough and powdered sugar mixed wafting on the wind. But what happens when one of those delicious treats decides it's not quite ready to be eaten? Today on Confetti Park Storytime , we are sprinting through the streets of New Orleans alongside a very fast, very sugary char...

Stanton Dossett, from Shreveport, Louisiana, grew up surrounded by music that shaped his earliest memories. His grandmother, Mary Lou Davis, was a talented pianist and composer who filled his childhood with original songs and lullabies. Stanton's mother continued that tradition, playing classical pieces—especially Chopin—which made music a daily presence in their lives. The gentle humming of Hatti...

Irma Thomas, the "Soul Queen of New Orleans," still remembers her first time singing on stage. It happened at New Star school in Greensburg, Louisiana, during a school play of Cinderella. Her teacher asked her to sing "Tennessee Waltz" for the audience. Irma wasn't nervous—she was excited. As she sang, she realized how much she loved performing. The applause she received made her feel proud and ha...

A professional performer and New Orleans teacher, Donald Lewis, Jr. has shared his stories with scores of Louisiana children over the decades atschools and libraries around the state. He's delighted New Orleans audiences in dozens of theatrical performances over the years. And many have heard his sonorous deep voice over the airwaves on WWOZ and WRBH 88.3 FM, Radio for the Blind and Print Handicap...

In this childhood music memory, New Orleans musician Chris Sheard recalls going on car rides with the family and only having one cassette tape to listen to, over and over again. One side featured Marvin Gaye, and the other featured Sam Cooke. The family would flip the tape over and over, and Chris learned every single word to every song by heart. Chris ponders how children today have infinite opti...

Meet the Chickadees, a trio of young musicians from Shreveport, Louisiana! These sensational ten-year-olds – Posy Harper, Evie Desobry and Ellie Spero – are a breath of fresh air to the local music scene with their infectious energy and impressive talent. Guided by their dedicated teacher, Miss Sandra Odom, the Chickadees are singing and strumming their way into the hearts of audiences. [Katy: I f...

The Cajun fiddler and singer for Lost Bayou Ramblers recalls learning to dance with his cousins while the family band played Louis Michot, a talented fiddler and singer with the Grammy award-winning Cajun band Lost Bayou Ramblers , shared a sweet childhood music memory with Confetti Park. Growing up, Louis would often join his father and uncles' band, Les Frères Michot, in the vibrant dance halls...

A new reading and coloring book about New Orleans' relationship with water will entertain and educate! Katy recently interviewed hrilina ♡, a rising leader among young New Orleanians, who is proud to announce the release of a unique educational coloring book titled  "Water Wonderful World." Published by  Trinity City Comics , the book explores the relationship we in South Louisiana have with water...

At 12 years old, this musician and composer is already active on the local music scene in New Orleans. Katy Hobgood Ray interviews Arlo for Confetti Park. In a recent interview, New Orleans based music prodigy Arlo McCracken Allen shared insights into his musical journey that began at the young age of four when he first sat at a piano. Arlo quickly progressed from playing at home to performing wit...

Music can carry powerful memories and emotions through generations, as Scott Durbin of the Imagination Movers shares with us.  Scott, whose grandmother was Native American, recalls participating in powwows at a very young age. His family's tribe would come together to honor their cultural traditions, and music with drumming and dancing was a central component. "I remember being very young, dressed...

Happy Mardi Gras, everybody! Wherever you're watching the parades– whether it's out in the parishes, Slidell, Metairie or along beautiful St. Charles Avenue–chances are you will need some shade and respite after a long day of truck floats. Find a tree, have a rest, look around, and enjoy the show. And keep your eyes peeled for the Mardi Gras trees! You know the ones… they glitter like rainbows, de...

In this episode of Confetti Park, we connect with the creative mind of Steven Scaffidi, a veteran of the entertainment industry. For decades Steven has worked in film and television—writing, directing, and producing. Based out of New Orleans, Steven has deep connections to the industry in South Louisiana, but his work extends nationally as well. From commercials for restaurants, furniture companie...

Summertime means road trips! In this episode of Confetti Park, we take a road trip with Papa Dude and his best friend Charlie Crab. They take us on a trip across America, and we get visit some of the most interesting and fun places the continental United States has to offer. Who is Papa Dude? His real name is Steven Scaffidi, and he is a New Orleans creator who has a whole line of Papa Dude advent...

In this episode of Confetti Park, Katy Hobgood Ray interviews Valerie James Abbott, a mother whose journey with her own daughter's hearing loss inspired a children's book called Padapillo . Parents should be aware that hearing loss in young children can go undetected for quite a while. Do you know the signs? "My daughter Bridget passed her newborn screening test at the hospital when she was born,"...

In this episode of Confetti Park, we hear the children's book Padapillo narrated by the author, Valerie James Abbott. Based on the true life events of the author and her family, Padapillo is the story of a family discovering the hearing loss of a child.

Happy Thanksgiving! Something we all should be thankful for is that, in this world, there are good people everywhere. Kindness and civility, thoughtfulness and helpfulness, these are qualities that exist in people in every town, city, and country. Like Mr. Rogers said, "Look for the helpers." They are everywhere, and we can learn from them about who to surround ourselves with (to feel one kind of...

It's almost Halloween, the time of year when the doors between the living world and the spiritual world are open wide. Soon we will observe Allhallowtide, when we remember the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed. It's the perfect time to cozy up to a fire and hear tales of the supernatural. You decide... truth or fiction? In this episode of Confetti Park Storyt...

In this episode of Confetti Park Storytime, we hear about Le Lutin, a fairytale figure and a trickster spirit! Contributor Kathleen Welch shares some of the legends about this hobgoblin who has a knack for pranking. Le lutin could change his appearance whenever he wanted. So you never know when you are seeing a lutin. But legends say his natural form was a little man with a long beard. He was espe...

Hi everybody, it's Rosemary the Garden Fairy, and I'm here to share fun gardening tips and interesting information about the natural world around us. Have you ever heard the phrase 'the early bird catches the worm' ? For people who like watch birds, the early birder catches the bird! Between the time the first gray light of day appears and the sun peeps over the horizon, the mockingbirds make some...

In this episode of Confetti Park Storytime, we hear some sweet excerpts from Lucky Enough: A Year of a Dad's Daily Notes of Encouragement and Life Lessons to His Daughter , in the voice of the author Dr. Chris Yandle.

In this episode of Confetti Park Storytime, we hear the loving and endearingly bittersweet Sometimes Even Elephants Forget: A Story about Alzheimer's Disease for Young Children, narrated by the author Kathleen Welch. You'll love the main characters: two elephants, Grandma Bawa and grandson Mookie, and Kip, a kind and clever hedgehog, who have an adventure together in the jungle.

Storytime: Samuel Morse, That's Who! By Tracy Nelson Maurer Home Podcast Storytime: Samuel Morse, That's Who! by Tracy Nelson Maurer   Storytime: Samuel Morse, That's Who! by Tracy Nelson Maurer In this episode of Confetti Park Storytime, you'll hear the fascinating and fun story of the inventor  Samuel Morse , who used electricity to power the telegraph and who invented Morse Code. Way back in th...

In this episode of Confetti Park, we hear a traditional folk tale interpreted and narrated by Janneke van der Molen of New Orleans. Janneke is originally from the Netherlands, but has called New Orleans home for two decades. She has a deep love of the culture of South Louisiana and her adopted city of New Orleans. Enjoy her interpretation of this strange Native American myth about why opossums hav...

Justin Wilson is a Louisiana Legend. He has since passed away, but in his life he was a beloved Cajun chef, storyteller, comedian and poet who delighted fans around the world with his whimsical stories, songs, genial nature, and delightful sense of humor as he shared his Cajun recipes and heritage, through television, radio, stage and other venues. 
 I loved watching Justin on PBS, standing in a k...