Event Recap: Partying with The Pig Lebowski at Hogs For The Cause 2025

Last weekend, Downtown FabWorks joined The Pig Lebowski team at Hogs For The Cause, an annual charity cook-off event held at the UNO Lakefront Festival Grounds. Like many of New Orleans’ best festivals, Hogs started out small and has grown into something truly over-the-top, in the best way possible. Since its inception in 2008, it’s gone from homegrown BBQ festival to one of the top BBQ competitions in the United States, and the musical acts get bigger and better every year. Best of all, all proceeds go to support the fight against pediatric brain cancer.

The teams that come out to compete at Hogs for the Cause go all in to one up each other in a bunch of different contests, all ways to increase fundraising for a worthy cause while also gaining a little bit of clout in categories like Whole Hog, Best Wings, Fan Favorite, and Best Friday Night Party. Last weekend (April 4th and 5th, 2025), the event raised a record-breaking $5.25 million, with 85 charity teams slinging BBQ and 20 live performers hitting the festival’s three stages.

The DFW team has been hankering for a chance to join in the fun at Hogs and show off our abiding love of barbecue for years, so when our friends in The Pig Lebowski asked for a hand to transform their team tent into the ultimate Friday Night Party spot, we couldn’t wait to help out. The team came to the table with a great 40’ x 40’ event tent, and we added custom signage featuring a 3D version of the team’s The Big Lebowski-inspired logo, a handmade cocktail bar, and a custom-CNC’d steel Pig Lebowski wall logo, plus vibrant lighting and a haze machine. Ceiling drape in the team’s signature pink and yellow hues really tied the room together.

The party, powered by local favorites Flow Tribe, DJ SuperToast, and DJ Craig Mic, was a hit. Live painter Alex Harvie added the perfect final touch. And as is only proper, the team paid homage to The Dude by serving White Russians at the bar.

While our team didn’t snag first place for the party, The Pig Lebowski placed 15th in Whole Hog, collected over $20,000 for charity, and loved every minute of raising funds and awareness for a worthy cause. It was a great experience, overall, and we’re already cooking up ideas for next year’s tent, with a little inspiration from His Dudeness, of course…

Find out how Downtown FabWorks can help you create unforgettable experiences for patrons, guests, and clients at your next brand activation or VIP event! We partner with our clients to design and fabricate immersive experiences, themed environments, and more. Visit our website to see how we can bring your vision to life.