April 29, 2013
Exciting Events Set for Weekend of June 20-23
One of the marquee events of the Summer of '13 is the Third Annual FestiGals celebration taking place in the historic French Quarter from June 20-23. A festival created by women for women, FestiGals is a weekend dedicated to empowering women and celebrating fashion, food, friendship and . . . especially . . . FUN!
FestiGals organizers call it "The Ultimate Girlfriend Getaway" and "A Party with a Purpose." Participants can shop, eat, drink, explore the local culture and history or just relax and be pampered for four carefree days.
Among the highlights of every FestiGals celebration are the guest speakers who are authorities in their respective fields and role models for women everywhere. Their talks on empowerment cover a wide range of topics from business success to fashion to healthy eating and living to travel and much more.
Rhonda Shear, a popular New Orleans-born actress and former Miss Louisiana, is this year's keynote speaker. She is best-known for her eight years of hosting "USA: Up All Night," as well as for prime time guest appearances on Happy Days, The A-Team, Dallas and Cheers. She is now President of Shear Enterprises, a fashion clothing and design line for women based in St. Petersburg, Florida. She launched her line of Rhonda Shear Intimates over the Home Shopping Network and was picked up by The Shopping Channel in Canada and Ideal World Shopping in the U.K. The product line is now represented in 40 countries and, in 2011, her company had over $72 million in sales. Her talk will be an inspirational one, aimed at convincing her audience, "You can do this too."
Other celebrity guest speakers are:
- Amilya Antonetti, renowned entrepreneur, successful businesswoman, and mother
- Holly Clegg, bestselling cookbook author and healthy lifestyle expert
- Tonya Fitzpatrick, attorney, author, entrepreneur, speaker, travel expert and executive producer and co-host of the "World Footprints" radio show
- Dr. Susan Kellogg, co-founder of The Pelvic and Sexual Health Institute of Philadelphia and Director of Sexual Medicine
- Stephanie Oswald, travel expert, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Travelgirl Magazine and contributing correspondent for CNN.com/Travel
- Colleen Rickenbacher, business owner, author, speaker, trainer and consultant
- Tara Shaw: interior designer and antiques and furnishings specialist
- Roy Rover: vintage fashion jewelry expert and authority on Coco Chanel
Other special events planned include a Friday morning continental breakfast presented by Neocutis. The topic of the morning is "Yes You Can Turn Back the Clock!" presented by Dr. Barbara Bopp, a cosmetic dermatologist specializing in aging gracefully.
This year's FestiGals Celebrity Chef is Tory McPhail, Executive Chef at the world-renowned Commander's Palace Restaurant. He will host a culinary presentation with lunch at a sister restaurant, Cafe Adelaide.
There will also be "Diva Discussions" on Health & Well-Being, Lifestyle and Professional Development & Enrichment; the "Bodacious Bras for a Cause Luncheon" with proceeds going to the Cancer Association of Greater New Orleans; and a "Sip & Shop" sponsored by French Quarterly in which participating businesses offer hors d'oeuvres from Whole Foods and specialty cocktails. The "Stiletto Stroll," on Saturday evening, is a New Orleans-style street parade through the French Quarter where FestiGals Divas are decked out and become the stars.
An after-glow party at Bourbon Heat immediately follows the parade. There's also an optional night out on Frenchmen Street where FestiGals can experience New Orleans' vibrant music scene.
On Sunday, the festivities conclude with a "Hangover Hospital" and a "Saints and Sinners Morning," complete with a campy Drag Queen Brunch.
The landmark Hotel Monteleone serves as the Official FestiGals Headquarters for the event. The Monteleone is offering a special rate of $159, available only when registering for FestiGals.
For more information, call 1-855-GAL-WKND (425-9563) or visit www.festigals.org. For email inquiries type info@festigals.org in your "Send To" box.
While visiting them on the web, be sure to sign up for FestiGals email updates at info@festigals.org. Also friend them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FestiGalsNewOrleans and follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com#!FestiGalsNOLA.
