Beignet Fest raises nearly $500,000 to support autism awareness and programming in New Orleans

Written by Alicia Vial

With 47 different beignet dishes, four winners announced in Best Beignets contest

NEW ORLEANS – Beignet Fest welcomed more than 10,000 attendees this past Saturday to its one-day festival in New Orleans City Park, marking the largest crowds since COVID-19. The annual celebration of one of New Orleans’ most iconic dishes in an array of forms also raised nearly $500,000 to support autism awareness and local programs serving children with autism and related developmental differences.

The festival celebrated the creativity and culinary talent of participating restaurants and vendors through its annual Best Beignets contest. Attendees voted on their favorite beignet dishes in three different categories, and a panel of media personalities tasted five different savory beignets for the annual Judge’s Choice award. The winners of the 2026 Best Beignet contest are:

·       Best Traditional: Cafe Beignet

  • Best Sweet: The Vintage – Oreo Cheesecake Beignet

  • Best Savory: Southern's – Hot Honey Chicken

  • Judges' Choice: Ruby Slipper – Nashville Hot Chicken

From traditional powdered-sugar favorites to inventive sweet and savory creations, the contest highlights the culinary talent and creativity that make New Orleans' food culture so special.

"This year's Beignet Fest was a tremendous success, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who came out to celebrate with us," said Sherwood Collins, Beignet Fest founder and producer. "Seeing the community come together and raising nearly a half-million dollars toward our mission is meaningful beyond words. What started as a celebration of beignets has grown into something much bigger. We are proud that this community continues to show up for neurodiverse children and their families."

Founded in 2016 by Amy and Sherwood Collins, Beignet Fest was created to increase awareness and funding for programs serving children with autism and related developmental differences. Proceeds from the festival support the Beignet Fest Foundation's work funding advocacy, education and enrichment programs for the autism community. Over the last decade now, the Beignet Fest has raised a total of $3.5 million toward its mission.

The success of Beignet Fest is made possible through the generosity of attendees, sponsors, participating restaurants, vendors and community partners who share a commitment to this mission.

For more information about Beignet Fest and the Beignet Fest Foundation, visit www.beignetfest.com.

###

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.

Next

Pontchartrain Conservancy to Host 13th Annual Lights on the Lake