Fried Chicken Festival closes out its 10th anniversary with a final day at the Lakefront
More than 40 restaurants, Nelly and Big Freedia on the stages, and a decade of the bird: the National Fried Chicken Festival wraps Sunday at the UNO Lakefront Arena grounds.
NEW ORLEANS: The National Fried Chicken Festival wraps its 10th anniversary edition today at the UNO Lakefront Arena Festival Grounds, closing a three-day run that the organizers billed as the festival’s largest and most diverse food lineup to date.
More than 40 restaurants set up along the Lakefront at Lakeshore Drive and Franklin Avenue, each putting a spin on the dish for a shot at the festival’s Best Fried Chicken and Best Use of Fried Chicken in a Dish awards. The Culinary Icon Award also goes to a chef with major contributions to the industry, and the festival carries a USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice ranking as the 6th Best Specialty Food Festival.
The music lineup runs from Louisiana acts on Friday’s Locals Day to national headliners across the weekend’s two main stages, including Nelly, 2 Chainz, Ying Yang Twins, Dillon Francis and Big Freedia. Saturday morning opened with the second annual festival 5K Run/Walk along the Lakefront, plus a Kids 1-Mile Fun Run for children 12 and under.
Practical notes for the final day: the festival is cashless, outside food and drink are not allowed except sealed water bottles, and parking runs at the Lakefront Arena and along Lakeshore Drive with a free shuttle between the two. General admission starts at $21, with upgrades including the Stella Artois Beer Garden and VIP lounges, and children 12 and under get in free with a ticketed adult.
The festival, presented by Raising Cane’s, runs the first weekend in October each year. Today is the last chance to get in on the anniversary edition.
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