Party like it’s the end of the world

To hear Sharon Litwin’s interview with Ryan Ballard on WWNO-FM radio, click here.

Make the Mayans happy; it’s our only hope for survival.

At least that’s what members of the Krewe of Chewbacchus believe. This group of self-described Star War freaks, Trekkies, mega-geeks and UFO conspiracy theorists is madly working to finish the sets for the most “epic” festival ever held.

So says Ryan Ballard, overlord of the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus and local brainchild of The Cosmic Convergence Festival scheduled to take place on December 21, 2012, the day the baktun period of the Mayan long calendar concludes after 5,125 years.

The original idea for the festival comes from Giorgio Tsoukalos, last year’s Krewe royalty and producer/star of the History Channel’s Ancient Alien show.

“I’m what you could call the man behind the curtain,” Ryan says of his own part in the proceedings. He and his group have been working day and night to put on a festival that will be not only “world class and pretty amazing” but also “epic in its scale and scope.”

Giorgio Tsoukalos is returning to New Orleans and will appear on stage at the Sugar Mill exactly at midnight on Friday. He will emerge, Ryan says, from a specially constructed “mother ship space freighter” that will land in a huge party room loaded with Mayan pyramids and sculptural installations of all kinds.

Now, to be sure, Ryan has his tongue firmly planted in his cheek as he describes the full extent of the Krewe of Chewbacchus’s efforts to appease the Mayan super gods. More than 20 bands will assist in this vital chore, appearing from the opening of the festival at 11 a.m. on December 21 and performing until its conclusion past 2 a.m. on December 22.

In this way, with great food, lots of drink, outstanding music and a super nod to the Maya nculture, Ryan believes that not only will the super gods be pleased and cancel any anticipated final fury, but they will think us “so awesome, they will want to party with us.”

So get your Mayan mojo on, dress the part, and help save Planet Earth. It’s your sworn duty. To find out more about The Cosmic Convergence Festival go to www.cosmicfestnola.com.

Sharon Litwin is president of NolaVie.