Eat through NOLA: festivals you won’t want to miss

Natalie Shaffer | Contributing Artist

Jordan Moskowitz, Contributing Reporter
September 18, 2019

It’s everyone’s favorite time of year. The real reason why we chose Tulane.  

Fried Chicken

Don’t be a chicken and attend this festival on Sept. 20. The Fried Chicken Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in Woldenberg Park. The festival is free, outdoors and has expanded to three days this year. More than 35 restaurants will provide “crispy, extra crispy, double dipped, spicy, mild, extra spicy” chicken. There will also be desserts from Freezy Street and Crepes A La Cart to top off your fried chicken entrée. 

Beignet

“Where have you beignet all my life?” Come out to the Beignet Festival for its fourth annual event to secure these sweet fried dough sensations. The beignet varieties at this festival are endless, some served with toppings of crab meat or oreos. The festival will take place at the New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds and will run from Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is a general admission fee of $5. Some of the local vendors attending include Ruby Slipper Cafe and Sno-La Snoballs. Make sure to come out early to get these French snacks while they’re still warm!

Mac n’ Cheese

Say cheese because the NOLA Mac n’ Cheese Fest will be here on Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Make sure to book your flight home from fall break in the morning so you won’t miss out on this free festival located in Louis Armstrong Park. This festival is in honor of the co-founder, Kent Broussard, who passed away this year. If you consider yourself a top-notch cheese lover, there is a competitive eating contest to crown “NOLA’s Biggest Mac n’ Cheese Fan!”

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Po’boy

Get your po’boy on! Get it dressed or plain on Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oak Street free of charge. Some po’boy options include fried shrimp, oysters and catfish, ham, cheese and roast beef. This festival is not only celebrating food, but honoring the rebirth of Carrollton being annexed by New Orleans in 1874, when Oak Street was a popular place for locals to visit. A $5 wristband must be purchased to access the po’boy vendors.

Come and check out some of these festivals to explore New Orleans’ culture, and it all starts with food.

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