Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival kicks off on Friday, Oct. 17, in Lafayette Square Park. The sounds of blues and smell of barbecue will draw people downtown and welcome them to linger, whether they head to bars in the CBD or continue on into the Quarter.
According to Travel + Leisure, we’re a city known for “making barbecue on its own terms.” This premier travel magazine named New Orleans one of the best barbecue cities in America for 2014, no doubt for our totally Nola creations like barbecue oyster po’boys and Creole coleslaw. Blues and BBQ Fest is the perfect opportunity to showcase our unique culinary traditions and invite visitors to enjoy a taste of New Orleans.
Photo courtesy of Martin Kalvatovic on Flickr.
Eat, Dance, Shop
Expect barbecue in many of its famed styles: Carolina, Tennessee, St. Louis, and of course Louisiana styles are all available at the event. With vegetarian, gluten-free and dessert options, the expansive menu proves our Travel + Leisure ranking was no fluke.
Of course, blues is the other highlight. This year, the festival will feature artists like Los Lobos, R&B legend Denise Lasalle, folk songstress Valerie June, and local singer/songwriter Mia Borders. This mix of big names and emerging artists will draw in blues aficionados and new fans of the genre alike.
Visitors can purchase from local artists at the on-site Arts and Crafts Market. Blown glass, pottery, jewelry, and paintings comprise just a few of the selections available at this well-curated market that truly has something for everyone.
A Foundation Worth Funding
Although the event is free, donations will benefit Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the foundation behind the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The annual budget for Jazz Fest is more than $20 million, and 2011, the most recent year of available records, yielded $31 million in revenue.
This year’s Blues and BBQ Fest includes sponsors like Abita Brewing Company and The National Endowment for the Arts. With businesses, organizations, artists, and music coming together as one, New Orleans will enjoy every savory bit of this amazing festival.