Pizza Fest to serve up huge slice of fun

Pizza Fest logo<a href="mailto:news@americanpress.com"> Special to American Press </a>

<p class="p1">It started as an offhand remark, one of those “What if?” ideas uttered between friends.

<p class="p3">But over the years the thought of hosting a pizza festival downtown took on a life of its own, and soon they were setting the date, said event cofounder Colton Schexneider.

<p class="p3">The newest addition to the Lake Charles festival scene, Pizza Fest will take over the parking lot behind Sloppy’s Downtown 4-10 p.m. Saturday, April 21, with live music, art vendors, drinks and — of course — plenty of pizza.

<p class="p3">Four pizza vendors will be on hand: Mellow Mushroom, Sloppy’s, CiCi’s and On the Rocks. Schexneider said slices ranging from downright “crazy” to “Plain Jane” will be available for $3 each, or five slices with a $10 wristband.

<p class="p3">Vendors will compete for best slice. Attendees will also have the chance to participate in a pizza-eating contest.

<p class="p3">A live artist will create an original mural on a plywood installment outside, and pizza-themed art by students at McNeese State University will be displayed in Sloppy’s, where an after-party will immediately follow the event.

<p class="p3">After working in the local nightlife scene for several years as co-owner of Neon Natives, Schexneider and business partner Casi Walters wanted to put on a daytime event that families could attend together.

<p class="p3">“When we first started doing shows all of our friends were young and partied,” he said. “Now all of our friends have families, so we wanted to do something they can bring their kids to and still have fun.”

<p class="p3">He said the music, mostly local bands with some exceptions, will be family friendly. The bands are Zach Edwards, Madhatter, Bear, Paws teh Cat, The Quadroholics, Team Theory, The Cards, Docta Z, Mar, Seth Mardis, Mr. Fahrenheit and Tsora.

<p class="p3">Brett Stutes, owner of Sloppy’s and a partner in Pizza Fest, said he hopes the event grows to include more vendors and more people each year. 

<p class="p3">“I think it’s going to work,” Stutes said. “There’s a lot of buzz about it right now. As long as you’ve got alcohol and some music and some food and some bathrooms, you’ve got a festival.”

<p class="p3">Schexneider said he hopes the event earns a name for itself alongside local festivals like Louisiana Pirate Festival and Chuck Fest.

<p class="p4">For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

SportsPlus

Jim Gazzolo

Jim Gazzolo column: Parity no cause for concern

Local News

US taxpayer funds went to foreign competition for domestic shrimpers

McNeese Sports

Cowboys look to regain touch

life

Hobo Hotel for Cats charity auction set for Saturday

Local News

Firefighter training to be offered to high school junior, seniors

Local News

LCPD complaints delay vote to reappoint police chief

Local News

Karlee Campbell curates a classroom for students where they feel welcomed

McNeese Sports

Cowgirls suffer double loss

life

SW La. nightlife calendar: There’s always something to do

Local News

Trump announces commission on religious liberty, White House Faith Office

McNeese Sports

Traveling man

Local News

Jennings High Key Club using grant to increase access to books

Local News

Program aimed at helping city workers buy homes

Local News

Several area schools named after Black education pioneers, local legends

Crime

LC man accused of going on crime spree

McNeese Sports

Back to their roots

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column:Second Harvest news unsettling

Local News

Meet the candidates: Five throw hat in ring for mayor’s race

McNeese Sports

SLC games set for McNeese

McNeese Sports

Cowgirls look for four-peat

Local News

UPDATE: Drug charges against veterinarian cleared of rape dropped

Local News

Cassidy, Senate committee advances Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nomination to be health secretary

Business

Waffle House adds surcharge to eggs as massive bird flu outbreak leads to soaring prices

Local News

Federal judge blocks enforcement of La. police ‘buffer-zone’ law