My favorite festival of the year, French Quarter Fest, (FQF) is celebrating its 40th year. With over 20 stages of indigenous music and over 60 local food booths, locals and visitors can enjoy the best of our city’s offerings. After wandering across the Quarter checking out this year’s dishes, we started our day with the Walker’s Southern Style BBQ Cochon de Lait Po-Boy ($12). I’m not normally a sandwich fan and prefer Po-Boys even less, but we usually get 2 to 4 of the pulled pork and cole slaw Po-Boys before the fest ends.
Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers were on the Abita Stage when we found our friends in the crowd. The lovely and talented Nayo Jones joined for several songs – as has become their annual tradition.
Heading toward the Aquarium, we tried the Ruth Chris Steak House Steak Sliders & Sweet Potato Casserole ($12), which was pretty tasty. One of the great things about FQF is stumbling onto new musicians while traversing the French Quarter between food and music destinations – heading back to the Abita Stage, we stopped to take in The Lilli Lewis Project.
Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes have been playing the fest for years, but normally on the smaller stage area behind The Mint, so it was nice to see them entertaining the vast Waldenburg Park crowd.
Our evening crescendoed with Grammy-winner Miss Irma Thomas, Soul Queen of New Orleans. It’s always a privilege to attend her shows. We dance and sing along to old favorites and even get to shout out requests. Then the Fest treated us to a fireworks show over the mighty Mississippi – a great way to end day 1 of this 4-day fest.
Enjoy the photos!
L.A. to N.O.LA 