Beignets take center stage Saturday, Nov. 15 at the 8th annual Beignet Fest

Written By Alicia Vial

Incredible lineup of food vendors brings creative, mouthwatering twists to New Orleans’ most beloved treat

NEW ORLEANS – Dusted, topped, stuffed and sandwiched, the 8th annual Beignet Fest returns to City Park Saturday, Nov. 15, featuring multiple variations of New Orleans’ most beloved treat all in one place, for one delicious day.

Beignet Fest’s mouthwatering lineup includes 40 unique takes on beignets, including last year’s judge's choice winner, Loretta's Crabmeat Beignet, as well as crowd favorites Ruby Slipper Cafe, PJs and The Vintage NOLA. Plus, with vegan, gluten-free and non-beignet options, there’s something for everyone!

“This year we’re excited to have a wide selection of both crowd favorites and new vendors bringing their A-game,” says Beignet Fest Foundation Executive Director Sherwood Collins. “Each year our amazing vendors find a way to create imaginative dishes that get bolder, bigger and more creative. From classic powdered sugar perfection to bold, savory surprises, vendors will compete for Best Beignet in Traditional, Sweet and Savory categories.”

New food vendors for 2025 include Southern’s, debuting a Spicy Chicken Beignet, Lillie’s Cajun Kitchen showcasing both Seafood and Boudin Beignets and Catered To bringing Gumbo Beignets, among others. Returning favorites include Asian Outdoor Kitchen’s Plantain Mochi Beignets, Any O’Cajun’s Crawfish Beignets and Ruby Slipper’s Ruby Beignet Trio, which includes Sweet Heat Chicken & Beignets, Ube Yuzu Beignets and the Cochon Tasso Cream Beignets.

Thanks to generous support from the New Orleans Tourism and Culture Foundation, Beignet Fest brings you an extraordinary lineup of local talent, serving up the city’s signature sounds with an extra side of groove. Marc Broussard will headline Beignet Fest along with the legendary Rebirth Brass Band. Other musical performances include the Imagination Movers, Jeffrey “Jellybean” Alexander presents KINDRED and the Prism Project. Beignet Fest’s Artist Market, a true reflection of New Orleans’ rich cultural spirit, will feature a diverse collection of talented local artisans showcasing their handcrafted and original works.

Beignet Fest is supported by leading sponsors PJ’s Coffee, Abita Beer, The Times-Picayune/NOLA.com, Gambel Communications and other local businesses.

Tickets start at $25 and children under 10 are free. Proceeds from Beignet Fest benefit the Beignet Fest Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization established to support the autism community in Greater New Orleans.. To view the full menu and to purchase tickets, visit beignetfest.com.  

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About Beignet Fest:
Beignet Fest is a premier food festival in Louisiana that celebrates one of New Orleans’s most iconic dishes all in one place on one day. Proceeds from the event benefit the Beignet Fest Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization established to raise awareness and support for programs in Greater New Orleans that serve autistic youth and their families.

Recent Beignet Fest recognition includes:

  • Garden & Gun - Top Southern Fall Food Festival List 2024 and 2023

  • New Orleans Magazine - Tops of the Town Voter Poll Honoree 2023

  • Southern Living - Best Food Festivals in the South 2023

  • Tasting Table - 21 Bucket List Food Festivals 2023

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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