New Orleans is famous for its cuisine, and the wider state of Louisiana hosts hundreds of festivals each year — so, it’s no wonder the two have married to produce three noteworthy fall events honoring some of the city’s most iconic dishes.
National Fried Chicken Festival
Founded in 2016, the National Fried Chicken Festival will host 45 restaurants serving their versions of fried chicken the weekend of Oct. 5-6 along Lake Pontchartrain. Culinary events include cooking demonstrations, panel discussions, celebrity chefs and more. In addition to fried chicken, the festival will offer three music stages, children’s games and a beer garden.
The National Fried Chicken Festival offers live music in addition to favorite foods.
Credit: 2024 National Fried Chicken Festival
Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
Now in its 16th year, the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival will take over several blocks of an uptown street on Oct. 27 to host food and beverage vendors serving up the sandwich synonymous with New Orleans. Best of all, the festival is free. All that’s required is a wristband to purchase a po-boy.
The Po-Boy Festival also includes live music on several stages, an arts market, a kids’ zone and a po-boy competition. New this year will be presentations on the origins of the New Orleans sandwich and the city’s food culture.
Beignet Fest
Most Americans think of beignets as the sugary puff doughnut served at Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter, but for years now, Louisiana chefs have elevated the simple dessert to both sweet and savory goodness. The annual Beignet Fest will honor their creativity on Nov. 16 at City Park’s Festival Grounds.
“The 2023 menu included nearly 50 unique takes on beignets, including vegan and gluten-free options,” said Amy Boyle Collins, CEO of Gamble Communications, which represents the festival. “We expect even more this year, as we will have some additional vendors who are appearing at the festival for the first time."
Collins couldn’t reveal many more details at press time, but said festival-goers may indulge in a blackberry cloud beignet from Old School Eats and a cochon beignet from Ruby Slipper, inspired by the cochon eggs Benedict option served at the chain’s restaurants across the South.
