Mandeville, LA May 2026

Women Who Make Life Beautiful

Our May issue is a celebration of women who create beauty, offer wisdom, build trust, and shape the world around them with courage, discipline, and heart.

We begin with “It’s a Beautiful Life,” our conversation with Kris Norvell, whose boutique succulent nursery and florist reveals just how much charm, symbolism, and artistry can live inside a single arrangement. With an eye for beauty and a gift for helping others bring life into their spaces, Kris reminds us that even the smallest things can make a home feel more alive.

In “When Whimsy Meets Rigor and Resolve,” we meet Kathleen Legendre, an attorney whose intelligence, compassion, and steadiness shine in the emotionally complex world of family law. Kathleen pairs a reader’s heart with a lawyer’s discipline, helping clients move through difficult seasons with greater clarity, strength, and confidence.

Our May cover story, “Magical Memories,” takes readers inside the enchanted world of photographer Annie Whitaker, where childhood portraits become heirloom art. Through imagination, styling, and a unique sensitivity to wonder, Annie creates images that feel both timeless and deeply personal, preserving not just faces, but fleeting seasons of childhood itself.

We also feature “Becky Hillyard: From Side Hustle to Style Empire,” a story about taste, trust, and the courage to just start. Becky’s journey is a reminder that so many beautiful things begin with instinct, consistency, and the willingness to begin before everything feels perfectly in place.

And because no spring issue is complete without something fresh and lovely for the table, we include a charming DIY floral design feature and a recipe for berry bruschetta, a simple dish that feels equal parts effortless and celebratory.

However you’re moving through this season, we hope this issue of  Mandeville City Lifestyle leaves you inspired by the women who are building beautiful things, tending what matters, and bringing creativity and strength to everyday life.

Warmly,

May

2026

PUBLISHER

Rebecca George | rebecca.george@citylifestyle.com

CO-PUBLISHER

Christian George | christian.george@citylifestyle.com

PUBLISHER ASSISTANT

Akifa Ashraf

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Christian George, Kali Kasorzyk, Amy Tinnin, Sarah Knieff

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Abby Sands, Annie Whitaker, Kris Norvell, Amy Tinnin

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Lillian Gibbs

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle

inside the issue

It's a Beautiful Life

Kris Norvell unveils the beauty of succulents and how best to care for them

Succulents may be trending, but in the hands of Kris Norvell, they become something more than fashionable greenery.

Through It’s a Beautiful Life Succulent Gardens, a boutique succulent nursery and florist, Kris creates artful arrangements that are at once resilient, expressive, and strikingly beautiful.

She offers custom and pre-made arrangements, workshops, private events, and immersive planting experiences that help people bring a little more life into their homes.

We asked Kris why succulents have captured so many hearts, how to care for them well, and what makes her “fancy plants” stand apart.

WHY ARE SUCCULENTS HAVING SUCH A MOMENT RIGHT NOW, AND WHY SHOULD PEOPLE CONSIDER OWNING THEM?

Succulents are amazing plants, especially for new plant parents. They aren’t just cute, trendy plants; they’re tiny powerhouses of beauty, resilience, and symbolism.

They’re also perfect for small spaces. Because most varieties stay compact, succulents work beautifully on windowsills, desks, shelves, and patios.

There are seemingly endless varieties of shapes, colors, and textures. Some look like roses, others like coral reefs or even tiny trees.

ARTICLE BY CHRISTIAN GEORGE, PHD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRIS NORVELL

Succulents are also easy to propagate. Many succulents can grow new plants from a single leaf or cutting. That means one plant can turn into dozens over time, which is perfect for sharing with friends or expanding your collection.

They also boost mood! Caring for plants has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood. Having living greenery around you can make a space feel calmer and more welcoming.

Succulents are great for creative projects. They are ideal for arrangements, crafts, decor, and workshops. Their durability makes them perfect for artistic designs, conversation pieces, and gifts. In our case, they’re an outlet for our artistic expression.

And because they thrive in tough environments, succulents symbolize perseverance, endurance, and flourishing through adversity, which is something many people connect with on a deeper, more personal level.

WHAT ARE YOUR BEST QUICK TIPS FOR CARING FOR SUCCULENTS AT HOME?

Succulents are easy to care for. They store water in their leaves, stems, or roots, which means they don’t need frequent watering. Even beginners can keep them thriving with minimal effort.

Use natural pest control, and give them lots of light, whether that’s six hours of direct sun, eight hours of bright indirect light, or our personal favorite: grow lights.

The number one killer of a succulent is root rot, most often from overwatering. Just set down the watering can and enjoy the beauty.

WHAT MAKES THE SUCCULENTS YOU OFFER UNIQUE?

It’s a Beautiful Life succulents and succulent arrangements are “fancy plants,” if you will. We only use the best succulents, sourced worldwide for their superior coloring, character, and condition. We want our work to present as living works of art, so we are very particular about presentation.

We’re a boutique, not a big box, and we love getting to know our customers.

To learn more about Kris Norvell and It’s a Beautiful Life Succulent Gardens, you can reach her by phone at (225) 328-6602 or by email at kris.norvell@yahoo.com. Follow her on Facebook @itsabeautifullifesucculentgardens, Instagram @beautifullifesucculents, and Linktree linktr.ee/ beautifullifesucculents.

You can find Kris’ unique succulents at Redoux Home Market in Mandeville and Acquistapace’s Covington Supermarket.

When Whimsy Meets Rigor and Resolve

Kathleen Legendre pairs a reader’s heart with a lawyer’s discipline, guiding people through the emotionally complex world of family law

ARTICLE BY CHRISTIAN GEORGE, PHD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBY SANDS

“Powerful. Feisty. Intelligent. Deeply compassionate. Like a heroine from a novel.”

Those were the words I jotted down when meeting Kathleen Legendre. Raised in Shreveport, shaped by Mount Holyoke, and sharpened by years of service after Hurricane Katrina, Kathleen brings a beautiful balance of whimsy and rigor to the team at Zeringue & Associates Law Firm. An expert in family law, juvenile court, and civil legal aid, she built her career inside emotionally complicated courtrooms, helping people remain calm and focused when life takes twists and turns. Ask anyone whose life she changed, and they’ll agree: Kathleen has a way of making her surname ring true.

What first shaped the way you see the world as a woman and as a lawyer?

I grew up in Shreveport, and suddenly I was at a women’s college in Massachusetts, immersed in women’s studies, literature, history, and religion. That experience gave me a language for things I had sensed but never fully articulated. It helped me read literature and the Bible in a different way, not just across the page, but beneath it. And it still shapes how I move through the world.

How did you find your way into law?

It really was not a straight path. I thought about publishing, tried New York, worked in marketing in Chicago. Then I realized I wanted a profession that would challenge me intellectually and give me a strong, practical skill set. Law did both. At LSU Law, I discovered that once you learn the basics—the

contracts, constitutional law, and legal theory—you get hooked. The research, the writing, and the analysis, it all felt deeply natural to me.

What’s at the heart of your work in family law?

Education. People often arrive feeling overwhelmed, and my role is to help them focus on what matters most in the moment: assets, debts, custody, deadlines, and next steps. I cannot rewrite the relationship, but I can help untangle it, guiding people from chaos to clarity. I like being the person who can say, “Here is where you are, here is where you are going, and here is how we start.”

Since this is our “Ladies” issue, what do women especially need to hear when life no longer feels stable?

Empower yourself before the crisis point arrives. Understand what you have. Know how to access records, accounts, and information. If you’ve put your career on hold, start reclaiming it now. Independence gives you dignity, confidence, and options. Empowerment is not just a slogan. It’s freedom.

What does reading give you that the law cannot?

Reading keeps me curious. I joke that I go “shopping at the library,” bringing home armfuls of books, from presidents to feminist fiction. It reminds me that people are more complicated than one chapter of their story, and that perspective informs my work as a lawyer.

What one word best describes you?

Compassionate. I care deeply about people, sometimes to a fault, but that’s what makes this work matter to me. When someone feels lost or overwhelmed, I want to help them breathe, understand what comes next, and move forward with courage, love, and purpose.

Kathleen Legendre is an associate attorney with Zeringue & Associates Law Firm, located at 527 E. Boston St., Suite 201, in Covington.

For more information, call 985-801-0050, email zeringue office@lawyerincovington.com, or visit lawyerincovington.com.

ARTICLE BY KALI KASORZYK

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

BECKY HILLYARD

From Side Hustle to Style Empire

The power of taste, trust, and the courage to “just start.”

She didn’t have a business plan, a media budget, or even a name anyone could pronounce. What Becky Hillyard had was taste, a young family, and the instinct to just start. Today, her lifestyle brand Cella Jane commands an audience the size of Vogue’s , she’s nine collections strong with Splendid, and she’s built it all while raising three kids — refusing to sacrifice one for the other. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Becky shares what it really takes to build a brand, a career, and a life you love. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full conversation.

Q: WHEN DID YOU KNOW CELLA JANE WAS MORE THAN A HOBBY?

A: Two moments. Women started emailing me saying they bought something I recommended and felt amazing — asking me to help them find a dress for a wedding. That felt incredible. Then I looked at my affiliate numbers for one month and realized I could cover our mortgage. I thought, I can actually do this. I never set out to build a business. I started it because I genuinely loved it.

Q: WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU EVER TOOK WITH THE BRAND?

A: Designing my own collection. It’s easy to point at items on a website and say I love these. But to create something from scratch, put your name on it, and wait to see if people connect with it — that’s terrifying. I had an incredible partner in Splendid, and women loved the pieces. It was the biggest risk and the biggest accomplishment.

Q: HOW HAS INFLUENCER MARKETING CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?

A: When I started, brands didn’t know whether to take it seriously. Now it’s a legitimate line item in their marketing budgets — sometimes bigger than TV. Because what we’ve built is trust. People trust a real recommendation from someone they follow far more than a commercial. There’s no question about it now.

Q: YOU’RE A MOM OF THREE RUNNING A FULL BRAND. WHAT DOES YOUR DAY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

A: I try to get up at five and not hit snooze — that first hour before the house wakes up is the most productive, most peaceful hour of my day. Then it’s all hands on deck with the kids and school drop-off. After that I work — planning content, connecting with my team, editing. After pickup, the day shifts completely and it’s all about them. I’ve learned to protect both halves fiercely, because both matter.

Q: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN BUT KEEPS WAITING?

A: Don’t wait. Don’t wait for the perfect camera, the right strategy, or enough followers. We find every excuse to stay comfortable. Just start, be consistent, and be authentically yourself. The right people will find you — and they’ll stay.

This conversation is just the beginning. Becky goes deeper on the risks that almost stopped her, the design process behind her latest Splendid collection, and what she’d tell her 2012 self today. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.

“Trust is the only metric that actually compounds.”

— Becky Hillyard

MAGICAL MEMORIES

Magical is not the only word I’d use to describe Annie Whitaker’s photography. But it certainly belongs at the top.

ARTICLE BY CHRISTIAN GEORGE, PHD PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNIE WHITAKER

Picture this: You want your three-year-old photographed with real chickens and purple tulips. So naturally, you call Annie.

“I want to create treasures that families can keep for the next century.”

She is entirely unfazed.

She tells you she can hatch the chicks. She can plant the tulips. When you ask what your toddler should wear, she suggests an authentic 1920s overall set, or perhaps something nostalgic from the 1950s. Before long, you’re discussing Amalfi paper, richly textured finishes, and hand-carved Montparnasse frames.

Welcome to the magical world of Annie Leibovitz— pardon me, Annie Whitaker—the Northshore photographer who goes to extraordinary lengths to transform childhood into heirloom art.

WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS

When I arrive for the interview, Annie’s studio is already staged for her 10:00 a.m. newborn session.

“I’ve got pastries for the parents because I know they’re going to rush out of the house with the newborn and not eat,” she says, handing me a massive cinnamon roll.

This, I quickly learn, is very Annie.

She shows me the prize bag she set aside for the newborn’s big sister. “I want her to feel that this is as much about her as it is about the baby,” Annie says.

“I cater to my clients. Whatever they see on my website that they love, we can create. Everything in my pictures is real. We just planted three hundred daffodil bulbs, and I’m about to install an incubator for one of my April clients who really wants chicks.”

Children don’t just pose for her; they swing, pick flowers, and play with animals. “Kids have fun here,” she says. “Sometimes they ask, ‘Can we spend the night at Ms. Annie’s?’”

Around me are thousands of vintage children’s clothes Annie finds on her travels and in antique stores. Many are fragile.

“I do a lot of mending,” she says, “but it’s worth it.”

Annie stitches that same hands-on instinct through her work. Her studio, built by her husband,

is part atelier, part archive, with Italian papers, painted backdrops from Poland, and antique French potter’s boards, still dusted with white clay.

“Where did all this begin?” I ask, still contemplating chicks hatched on demand.

She points to a portrait in the corner.

“That’s my great-grandmother, Marguerite Donaldson, taken in 1900. It’s a treasure. And that’s what I want to create: treasures that families can keep for the next century.”

WHO IS ANNIE WHITAKER?

The answer begins in Mandeville.

She first fell in love with photography in high school, back when film had to be developed by hand in a dark room. Her grandmother posed for her, patiently letting Annie practice until she got it right.

“Here’s a picture of my grandma,” she says. “She’s blurry because I really wasn’t good at focusing.”

By college, Annie’s focus had shifted to science. With little time left for photography, she turned her attention to laboratories, research, and, eventually, a PhD in physiology. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience and built a serious academic career before stepping away in 2015. Her work ran through LSU’s alcohol research center, where she studied stress, addiction, and trauma in the brain. She still keeps one foot in science, teaching dual-enrollment biology at St. Scholastica Academy through Southeastern Louisiana University.

“I feel like my process as an artist has a very scientific mind behind it,” she says. “From the first planning appointment to the finished portrait, I take a scientific approach to everything.”

HOW THE MAGIC IS MADE

That scientific approach helps explain why Annie’s work, for all its fairy-tale softness, feels so precise. She is both artist and alchemist, hand-shaping each image digitally. “That’s where I put my magical touch on it,” she says.

The transformation begins long before the camera clicks. Every family starts with a design consultation. Annie pulls wardrobes, reviews props and backdrops, and later displays digital mockups on the client’s own walls.

“My goal is to give you timeless art you can pass down to your kids,” she says. “Something to make you smile thirty years down the line when they’re grown.”

“Don’t think of it as a photo session. Think of it like bringing the kids to Ms. Annie’s. ‘We’re gonna go play at her studio,’ and I just happen to be there with my camera.”

BEAUTY, INHERITED

To show me how she hangs her own artwork, Annie walks from the studio to her house, past a rope swing hanging from oaks and a fallen trunk that bends like a rainbow—the perfect spot for a child to sit.

Inside, everything feels hyper-custom: European doors, salvaged New Orleans doorknobs, and French sketches. She shows me a photograph of her grandmother, who was from Cuba. “She left in 1961 with her young daughters,” Annie says, “She sacrificed so much for her children and future grandchildren.”

Elsewhere, framed photographs hang beside old-world antiques, relics, and books yellow enough to be worth reading. The walls are

charcoal, not stark white. “Iron Ore by SherwinWilliams,” she says.

And that doesn’t surprise me coming from an artist of Annie’s caliber, someone who prefers things with a touch of patina and a little soul left in them.

THE BRIEF KINGDOM OF CHILDHOOD

Annie works hard to ensure her sessions feel like play rather than performance.

“Don’t think of it as a photo session,” she tells parents. “Instead, think of it like bringing the kids to Ms. Annie’s. ‘We’re gonna go play at her studio,’ and I just happen to be there with my camera.”

“And why should parents call you to photograph their children?” I ask.

“You’ve got like a ten-year window to do something special with them. And trust me, that window closes fast.”

She pauses, perhaps reflecting on her own two daughters.

“You’ve got like a ten-year window to do something special with them,” she says. “And trust me, that window closes fast. The years of chubby knees, garden games, and unquestioned belief—those disappear in the blink of an eye. Capture the magic while there’s still time.”

THE YEARS THAT VANISH FIRST

Not wanting to delay Annie’s upcoming photoshoot, I make my way back to the car. But as I prepare to leave her magical kingdom, a line penned by another Annie, the poet Anne Sexton, comes to mind:

“And we are magic talking to itself.”

But Annie’s kind of magic doesn’t speak only to itself. It speaks to all of us—a gift handed down by a grandmother who left Cuba decades ago so future generations could live out their dreams. Now Annie passes that gift on to us, conjuring joy and gratitude in families across the Northshore.

Photography, after all, is a moment already gone. A brief second in the past. Annie understands that better than most. She builds small worlds around children, turning their most fleeting years into enduring heirlooms.

In an age that can feel flattened, hurried, and strangely forgetful, Annie Whitaker reminds us that beauty still depends on memory, that children grow up quickly, and that the future is only as rich as what we choose to preserve from the past.

ANNIE WHITAKER PHOTOGRAPHY

Annie Whitaker is a Covington fine art photographer specializing in newborn, baby, child, family, and heirloom portraiture. Her full-service studio creates customized sessions, vintage styling, and museum-quality artwork designed to live in the home for generations. Parents can explore her portfolio and enquire about a session by visiting her website, emailing anniewhitakerphoto graphy@gmail.com, or calling (985) 966-7251 Her studio is located at 75732 Military Road, Covington. Follow Annie’s work online, schedule a consultation, and begin creating portrait art for your family that preserves your child’s fleeting years with beauty, tenderness, craftsmanship, and lasting wonder.

anniewhitakerphotography.com @anniewhitakerphotography

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS

Decorate Your Space With a DIY Floral Design

Spring: the days grow longer, weather turns warmer, and the earth’s greenery starts to make its reappearance. During this time, flowers shoot up from the ground in a ballet of colors and movement. Walking outside becomes a cherished moment to breathe the fresh air and immerse yourself in lush surroundings. Being inside your home turns dreary and dull, everything that thrives is now outside, but this can easily be remedied. Why not bring some life inside? Make a spring floral bouquet to lighten up your space. Flowers add color and character to any room that needs a little lift, and our step-by-step guide will inspire you to create something grand.

Supplies:

• Flowers of your choice

BY SARAH

• Scissors

• Twine or floral tape

• Ribbon (optional)

• Decorative paper (optional)

• Bouquet sleeve (optional)

Directions:

Step 1: When creating a beautiful floral arrangement, the first thing to do is decide on a color scheme and prepare the flowers.  Have fun deciding what colors you want to play with. Perhaps go pastel for spring or match the hues to other decor items in your house. Once you have picked your flowers, you need to do a little prep work. First, remove extra leaves and damaged petals from the stems. Then make a fresh diagonal cut to the bottom of all the flowers. This allows each bloom to soak up as much water as they need.

Step 2: Now it’s arranging time — think focal and filler. The best way to start the arranging process is by choosing your most interesting or favorite flowers — this will be your focal point. Hold the focal flower(s) upright and add your supporting blooms around it. Make sure to turn the bouquet as you build so that the design is as desired. Once this is complete, add your filler flowers to finalize the look. Filler options include baby’s breath, ivy, fern, eucalyptus and more.

Step 3: Let’s get ready to tie. Once you’ve arranged your bouquet, tie all the stems together using twine or floral tape. If using twine, we recommend securing it in a small bow in case you would like to rearrange at any given time. Floral tape is easy to move on and off for this purpose as well.

Step 4: Add the finishing touches. At this point, you are almost done with your bouquet and all that’s left is embellishments. There are so many ways to further adorn your creation: one way we love is to wrap it in fun decorative paper or put it in a special sleeve made just for flowers. If this idea isn’t for you, we recommend going to Pinterest for inspiration. Just remember, whatever way you choose to decorate your bouquet, you will end with a personalized piece made with love and care.

BERRY BRUSCHETTA

A RECIPE FROM A CUP FULL OF SASS

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY TINNIN

This Berry Bruschetta is a delightful twist on the classic bruschetta that we all love. This version uses fruit, bringing a sweet element to the traditionally savory dish. With the use of fresh berries, cream cheese, delicious fruit spread, crumbled cheese, and fresh rosemary, it is the perfect addition to your next spring event. This simple, yet beautiful appetizer could be enjoyed at your next brunch, shower or Mother’s Day celebration. But let’s be honest—you don’t need an excuse to enjoy this delectable dish!

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 baguette slices

• Extra virgin olive oil (for brushing)

• 4 oz cream cheese

• 1/4 cup Fruit and Honey Triple Berry Spread (or any fruit spread of your choice)

• 1/3 cup fresh strawberries, sliced

• 1/3 cup fresh blueberries

• 2 oz fruit cheese (such as Wensleydale with Autumn Fruit), crumbled

• Fresh rosemary for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Lightly brush the front and back of the baguette slices with Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

3. Toast baguette slices in the oven for 3-5 minutes or until lightly toasted.

4. Once the baguette slices are cool, spread a generous layer of cream cheese over each slice.

5. Add the fruit spread on top of the cream cheese.

6. Add sliced strawberries and a few blueberries, allowing the vibrant colors to pop. (A great place to find fresh fruit is our local staple, Crystal & Rich’s Produce.)

7. Crumble the fruit cheese over the top for an added layer of richness and depth.

8. Garnish with fresh Rosemary if desired.

9. Serve and enjoy!

MAY 2026

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

SATURDAYS

Mandeville Trailhead Community Market

Mandeville Trailhead | 9:00 AM

Located in Old Mandeville at the Trailhead, the free Saturday morning market brings together artisan crafts, fresh produce, eggs, poultry, baked goods, herbs, spa items, plants, and prepared specialties like pepper jelly, spices, and sauces. Visitors can also enjoy live music by local singer-songwriters on the pavilion stage.

MAY 9TH

Monthly Bird Walk/ Fontainebleau Early Birds

Fontainebleau State Park | 8:00 AM

Join the Pelican Park Nature Club for its monthly Bird Walk at Fontainebleau State Park, a relaxed and educational outing for bird lovers of all experience levels. The group meets at 8 a.m. near the splash pad and walks for about two hours. Binoculars will be available to borrow, and the park entrance fee is $3.

MAY 9TH

Mandeville Food Truck Festival

720 Lafitte Street, Mandeville 4:00 PM

Join the community for the 5th Annual Mandeville Food Truck Festival on Saturday, May 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Mandeville Lions Club in Old Mandeville. This free, family-friendly event features about 20 food and craft vendors, a bounce house, air-conditioned seating, and plenty of local flavor. Find updates on the festival’s Facebook page.

CONTINUED

MAY 10TH

Mandeville Artists

Guild Spring Art Market

Mandeville Trailhead

Community Market

The Mandeville Artists Guild Spring Art Market returns to the Mandeville Trailhead on Sunday, May 10, Mother’s Day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Spend the afternoon enjoying original artwork by local artists, along with live music and food in a relaxed open-air setting. Children and pets are welcome, making it a fun outing for the whole family.

MAY 10TH

Old Mandeville Historic Association Mother’s Day Home Tour

605 Carroll Street, Mandeville 2:00 PM

The Old Mandeville Historic Association’s Mother’s Day Home Tour returns Sunday, May 10, from 2 to 5 p.m., with the theme “Timeless and Today.” Guests can tour the historic Jean Baptiste Lang House, Newell Chapel, and five private Old Mandeville homes. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of, and $15 for students, benefiting local preservation efforts.

MAY 24TH

Mandeville

Family Reunion

Lakeshore Drive near Coffee & Carroll Streets | 10:00 AM

Join the community on Sunday, May 24, for the 13th annual Mandeville Family Reunion, also known as Heroes at Home, on the lakefront. This free Memorial Day weekend event features live music, patriotic tributes, food trucks, kids’ activities, contests, and all-day picnicking under the oaks, with festivities from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.