New Orleans knows no shortage of festivals. And in this city of constant parties, three festivals have come together for one big weekend: the Creole Tomato Festival, the New Orleans Seafood Festival, and the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival. These three fetes collectively form the New Orleans Vieux-to-Do. Visitors receive the diverse benefits of great food and live music of three distinct events within six city blocks along the Mississippi River.
Creole Tomato Festival
Located in the French Market
Held in the nation's oldest city marketplace, the Creole Tomato Festival features live music, cooking demonstrations, and the Creole Tomato Parade. Some of the city’s premier chefs lead the cooking demonstrations, showcasing dishes featuring the Creole tomato as the primary ingredient.
The Creole tomato was originally imported from the West Indies, and thrives in southern Louisiana's rich soil and subtropical climate (source: New Orleans Nostalgia: "You Like Tomato and I Love Creole," Ned Hemard, 2006). The Creole tomato becomes available on the market and on local restaurant menus in early June, just in time for the festival.
The Creole Tomato festival includes fun traditions like life-sized tomatoes handing out tomato-shaped fans to festivalgoers, and an auction of the first tomatoes of the season to local chefs.
New Orleans Seafood Festival
Located in the Louisiana State Museum's U.S. Mint
To celebrate Louisiana's impact on the seafood industry in the United States, some of the city's premier chefs gather to show off some of their recipes and cooking techniques. Listen to some live music, and take a "behind-the-scenes" tour of the city's working kitchens where seafood is prepared. The festival culminates with the creation of the world's largest seafood dish and the world’s largest crawfish boil.
Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival
Located in the Louisiana State Museum's U.S. Mint
Experience the Louisiana sounds of Cajun and Zydeco music, with more than 20 performances on two stages. 2011's performers included Grammy winners Beausoleil, Terrance Simien and Chubby Carrier.
