Beignet Fest announces music lineup for 9th annual festival Nov. 7

Written By Alicia Vial

Imagination Movers, Amanda Shaw, Maggie Koerner and Dragon Smoke to Perform

NEW ORLEANS – The 9th annual Beignet Fest presents an all-star Louisiana music lineup for this year’s festival, returning to New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026

Festival organizers today announced the slate of performers, including family-friendly entertainers Imagination Movers, Louisiana favorite Amanda Shaw, powerhouse vocalist Maggie Koerner and New Orleans supergroup Dragon Smoke. DJ Flowerchild will keep the energy high throughout the day, entertaining crowds between live performances. The music lineup is presented by the New Orleans Tourism & Cultural Foundation, created to support cultural industries and culture bearers of the City of New Orleans.

“With our musical entertainment, we look to capture the spirit, soul and family-friendly energy that have made Beignet Fest one of the city’s most beloved fall traditions,” said Sherwood Collins, Beignet Fest Foundation executive director and event producer. “We’re excited to bring together an incredible mix of artists for a day filled with culture and community.”

Set against the backdrop of City Park, Beignet Fest pairs live entertainment with some of the region’s most creative beignet-inspired dishes from top restaurants, caterers and food trucks, along with a local artist market, cultural activations, family activities and more.

Returning for its ninth year, proceeds from Beignet Fest benefit local autism programs, supporting the Beignet Fest Foundation’s direct-run programs and other nonprofit organizations that provide resources, services and opportunities for autistic individuals and their families across the region.

Tickets for Beignet Fest go on sale in August. Fans are encouraged to mark their calendars and stay tuned for additional festival announcements in the months ahead. For updates and festival news, visit www.beignetfest.com and follow Beignet Fest on social media @beignetfest.

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About Beignet Fest:
Named one of the Top 10 Specialty Food Festivals in the nation in 2026 by USA TODAY’s Readers Poll, 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 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.

Other honors for the Beignet Fest include:

  • 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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