8 Food Festivals You Can’t Miss
NEW ORLEANS FESTIVALS YOU NEED TO SEE TO BELIEVE
Louisiana is no stranger to festivals, boasting over 400 statewide. The people of Louisiana like having a good time, and they’ll make a good time out of anything. From food festivals (looking at you, Rice Festival) to heritage festivals (such as Greek Fest), whatever topic it is, there’s a more than likely chance that you will find a festival dedicated to it. With New Orleans being the lively city that it is, a good 130 of those 400 festivals are located in the city, and you don’t want to miss any New Orleans festivals during your stay with Nightly. With so many great festivals located in New Orleans, there will most likely be a festival to attend while you’re visiting this wonderful city.
New Orleans Food Festivals
From general food to single ingredients, Louisiana is known to look for any reason to celebrate food. Consider attending these New Orleans food festivals while visiting New Orleans and you will understand why residents are always planning their next meal out while they’re still dining. We’ve highlighted our New Orleans favorite food festivals for you to enjoy during your stay with Nightly.
French Market Creole Tomato Festival
Creole Tomato Festival is an event to mark tomato season, focusing on Creole tomatoes, which tend to taste better than regular tomatoes. They’re fresher because they stay on the vine longer, they don’t have to travel much (for Louisiana residents) as they’re harvested in Louisiana, and the soil used for them makes them sweeter. Located at The French Market in the historic French Quarter, this festival is held every June, as tomatoes are in season during the summer, which is the best time to harvest and eat fresh tomatoes. Most great home cooks tend to preserve tomatoes from the summer to use them throughout the year as fresh tomatoes are not good outside of tomato season. Ask any Italian.
When: June
Where: The French Market, French Quarter
Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
A street festival in New Orleans where restaurants and vendors gather to sell their creations, some of which are exclusive to the festival. Held on Oak Street in Uptown New Orleans, this November festival allows you to sample some of New Orleans’s best food, enclosed in a vessel made of French po-boy bread. Bring a few friends or family members, as you will want to try everything.
When: November
Where: Oak Street, Uptown
Fried Chicken Festival
What: You won’t go hungry at this New Orleans food festival dedicated to fried chicken. Vendors get creative at this fall festival, offering a variety of ways to eat fried chicken, with unique combinations as well. Just like you will find fried chicken from all over the country, you will also find musical acts of all genres from all over the nation. This two-day culinary festival takes place in October at the beautiful University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena in Gentilly.
When: October
Where: University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena, Gentilly
Tremé Creole Gumbo and Congo Square Rhythms Festival
Sitting in historic Tremé, the birthplace of jazz, located on the outskirts of the French Quarter, this festival celebrates is a celebration of the neighborhood and the legacy of enslaved African people who congregated at Congo Square weekly to practice their ancestral traditions. This New Orleans festival takes place in March at Louis Armstrong Park and highlights the music, food, and culture of Tremé. It is brought to you by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation.
When: March
Where: Louis Armstrong Park, Treme
New Orleans Wine & Food Experience
This extravagant showcase of food and drink takes place all over the city and is considered one of the nation’s most important culinary events. New Orleans’s best chefs, restaurants, wineries, and performers gather at venues all over the city to present their best. This must-experience event takes place in June, featuring Prix Fixe menus of specialty dishes exclusive to the festival, a la carte options, and wine tastings.
When: June
Where: Citywide
Louisiana Crawfish Festival
Held in Chalmette, a twenty-minute ride from the French Quarter, this carnival event is dedicated to giving back to the community in St. Bernard Parish, which was destroyed after Hurricane Katrina. Proceeds from the festival go to their newly formed foundation, the Louisiana Crawfish Fest Foundation, which is a registered non-profit. Since 2007, they have raised over one million dollars for St Bernard Parish. Besides boiled crawfish and unique crawfish-based dishes, you can find carnival rides, parades, carnival foods such as candied apples, and arts & crafts for sale. This festival, which takes place in March when crawfish is plentiful and tasty, thrives on bringing joy and should not be missed.
When: March
Where: Chalmette, St. Bernard Parish
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
Located in Lafayette Square Park, this festival is one of many brought on by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. Celebrating the blues, the festival boasts many of south Louisiana’s top performers and some of the best barbecue that the region has to offer. Taking place in October, this multi-day festival also features a crafts fair where you can buy handmade art and jewelry, crafted with care by some of the best artisans around. Without blues, there wouldn’t be jazz or R&B and this festival strives to remind you of that.
When: October
Where: Lafayette Square, Central Business District
Hogs For the Cause
Eat, drink, and dance all day at this cookoff dedicated to supporting those with pediatric brain cancer. Year after year, Hogs for the Cause has been voted the best local charity event in New Orleans, and it is with good reason. Over 80 BBQ masters and backyard chefs gather to compete in several categories, meaning that you get to sample many BBQ culinary delights you would not find at restaurants. Think of it as getting to sample some of the best home (or backyard) cooked meals in the area. This event also features New Orleans local music acts as well as national acts. Make sure you arrive hungry.
When: April
Where: University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena, Gentilly