30th Annual Creole Tomato Festival

May 25 2016 | News

Why You Need to Come to the 30th Annual Creole Tomato Festival in New Orleans

If you’re not from New Orleans, you might wonder how people can get so excited about tomatoes.  Well, you’ll never know if you don’t get in here for the 30th Annual French Market Creole Tomato Festival, taking place this year on Saturday and Sunday, June 11-12, in a big sweep of blocks in the city’s most popular tourist destination.

Not into tomatoes?  You don’t have to be.  Come on out to the French Quarter and have two days of fun like you can barely even imagine.  With the hot live music, cooking demos, crazy activities for kids, a vibrant arts market and people, people, people everywhere, you’ll find it easy to get into the swing.

More food than you can hold

But if you are partial to tomatoes, this is the place.  In addition to loads of fresh Creole tomatoes for sale, there will be a slew of food booths where you can eat luscious tomato dishes as well as many other dishes that have made New Orleans famous.  Scheduled food vendors include Crepes a la Cart, J’s Seafood Dock, Bistreaux at the Bank, Charcoal’s Gourmet Burger Bar, Voleo’s and Mr. Choo Food Truck.  You can choose from among 20 great places to eat.

Music all day

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, and music will fill the air for almost every minute of that time.  Four music stages will hammer it out with artists such as:

Big Daddy O
Shotgun Jazz Band (a staff pick!)
Creole Tomato Cabaret
Rocky Mountain Children’s Choir
Confetti Park Players
Carl Mack the Xylophone Man
Cha Wa
Little Freddie King

Stop by the front desk for a music schedule that shows times, artists and stage locations.

Learn about Creole cooking

For most of each festival day, organizers have arranged cooking demonstrations by local chefs, eating contests, talks about Creole tomatoes and exciting giveaways.  Learn something new, and go home and try it out!

Highlights include a talk and demonstration by Chef Kevin Belton, a Creole tomato eating contest, a cooking demo by Chef Ryan Haigler of Grand Isle Restaurant, instruction on how to make tomato jam, “Tomato Talk” with George LaFargue, a demo with Kid Chef Eliana and much more.

Staying with Us!

Our fine accommodations in a lovely, historic setting are just a few blocks away from the Creole Tomato Festival and all the other summer action in the French Quarter.  Make reservations on above or call (504) 581-4995 for reservations and more information.