Top Food Festivals in New Orleans for 2018

While music festivals in New Orleans may take the headlines, the city is also known for incredible food festivals. It’s filled with great events all year long and the food is often a centerpiece of every event in the city.

Most of the music festivals held throughout the city will feature great local food. However, they are not food festivals. The New Orleans food festivals are truly something special and provide events you simply won’t want to miss. Here’s a look at some of the top food festivals coming to New Orleans for 2018.

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience – May 23rd to 26th

One of the top food events of the year, the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience offers over 250 wineries and more than 100 local restaurants on display. It’s a massive event with some of the best restaurants and fine wines found throughout the area.

This festival is filled with great events all across the city including Vintner dinners at 34 different restaurants. The Royal Street Experience is one of the most popular events of the festival with live music, plenty of food and great wine. In addition, there will be two days of Grand Tastings and two days of seminars held by winemakers and experts.

The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience is a very popular event, so make sure to get your ticket early and make your reservations before it’s too lake.

Oak Street Po-Boy Festival – TBA

The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival is usually held in mid-November and takes over the commercial area of Oak Street in the Carrollton neighborhood. The Po-Boy is a sandwich much like a sub sandwich or hoagie. It’s a very uniquely New Orleans think and deserves to be celebrated every single year.

The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival offers plenty of great sandwiches for tasting along with a celebration of a once-thriving shopping district in Carrollton. Until 1874, the neighborhood was actually a city of its own and Oak Street provided the main commercial area.

This is a one-day event and will run for about eight hours with live music, plenty of arts and crafts and, of course, a ton of po-boys. All types will be on hand including catfish, oyster, fried shrimp, ham and cheese, roast beef and so many more. They can be ordered dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, onion and mayo or naked without any of the fixings.

The merchants found on Oak Street will open their doors during the festival, as well. They often provide great specials specifically for the event and you can enjoy the coffee shops and dining options all throughout the area. The event is part of the re-creation of a Main Street area in Carrollton and a small town vibe throughout. In fact, the street was resurfaced and many improvements were made to help with the efforts and to make this event possible.

The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival is both pedestrian-friendly and bike-friendly with plenty of lock-up racks throughout. It’s a family event everybody can enjoy and it’s free to the public.

Louisiana Seafood Festival – TBA

Held in October, the Louisiana Seafood Festival is one of the top seafood festivals in the country. It’s a three-day celebration and free for the public to attend.  The festival includes plenty of live entertainment, local arts and crafts, cooking demos from celebrity chefs and some of the top New Orleans restaurants providing great food.

Restaurants often in attendance include:

•          Acme Oyster House
•          Mr. B’s Bistro
•          Remoulade
•          Saltwater Grill
•          Arnaud’s
•          Cafe Giovanni
•          Ninja
•          Oceana
•          Red Fish Grill
•          And Many More!

Plenty of different types of seafood will be found at the event including crawfish, oysters, crab, shrimp and so much more.

Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival – October 12th to 14th

Combining two things New Orleans is well known for, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival celebrates great music and great food. It’s held in the Central Business District neighborhood of New Orleans and provides incredible BBQ dishes, along with plenty of live music.

The event will be found between Camp Street and St. Charles Avenue, about a block from Poydras Street. It’s a free festival open to the public with two stages of entertainment and plenty of great food to enjoy.

Lafayette Square will be transformed into an event center with booths all throughout offering food, crafts and more. Some of the best BBQ found in the south will be found at the festival. In addition, top blues artists, such as Barbara Lynn, Anders Osborne, Stanton Moore and others will take the stage to perform.

Several other great food festivals will be held throughout New Orleans for 2018, as well. Check out these top food events and make sure to mark your calendar.