Po-Boy Preservation Festival: Fried Shrimp and Bread, What More Could You Ask For?

It is time again for one of my favorite festivals. It’s a festival all about delicious French bread filled with yummy goodies. A festival with sandwiches so good, it will ensure you all get down and do a happy dance like no other. Sunday, November 14, the New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival returns again to New Orleans. Po-boy Festival is staged on Oak Street, in the Uptown neighborhood of Carrollton. Be prepared to help New Orleans in the consumption of loaves of bread that will leave us all blissful by nightfall.

The po-boy sandwich is a legend in its own right in New Orleans. Yummy loaves with seafood and fresh meats have been consumed by the masses since the 1920s. The beautiful po-boy sandwich was born at Martin Brothers Coffee Stand and Restaurant in the French Market. It was created to feed the many workers on strike, including streetcar motormen and conductors. They fed the men for free and referred to every worker coming for a meal as “another poor boy.” How can anyone not love a sandwich that is completely filling, and once helped to provide nourishment to New Orleans workers trying to make a difference? The po-boy is full of culture, class, and rich history.

At this year’s festival, you’ll get a chance to indulge in music, art, and of course: the food. We will all enjoy many genres of local music, including funk, hip hop, brass bands, and more. Los Po-Boy-Citos will perform some great Latin funk, to get you pumped up to try your second sandwich. Three phenomenal brass bands will be out and encouraging us to second line, all without dropping our food. You will get a chance to see Rebirth Brass Band, Baby Boyz Brass Band, and Pinettes Brass Band, all giving their spin on the favorite local music style. Make sure to check out a performance by New Orleans-born hip hop artist, Dee-1, who will provide some provoking rhymes and great beats for you to enjoy.  You can also catch Clockwork Elvis, Honey Island Swamp Band, Papa Grows Funk, 101 Runners, Jon Cleary, and more.

When you need a moment away from the food and music, take a stroll and check out the local artists. Many New Orleans-based artists will be on hand, and you can admire and purchase their works. I guarantee you will see some mind-blowing pieces from this creative bunch.

So many food vendors will be at Po-Boy Festival, just waiting to make your mouth water at the sight of these beautifully-crafted sandwiches. Barcelona Tapas will serve up a Spanish-style pork loin medallion and gouda po-boy, which just may make you sing out to the crowds passing by. C & J Catering will have you jumping for their Creole stuffed crab po-boy, which comes highly recommended. You can’t pass up the local favorite of hot sausage with tomatoes and peppers from Crescent Pie & Sausage Company. You name it: there will probably be a po-boy out there to fulfill that desire.

Don’t miss out on Po-Boy Festival! Eat, dance, and smile; you will find me in line for a shrimp po-boy, talking about the importance of bread pudding to post po-boy consumption.

Po-Boy Preservation Festival
Oak Street at South Carrollton
Sunday, November 14
11am -7pm

Tagged as: Art, crescent pie and sausage company, drinks, Food, Honey Island Swamp Band, Jon Cleary, Music, New Orleans, Oak Street, Papa Grows Funk, Po-Boy Festival, Po-Boy Preservation Festival, po-boys, Rebirth Brass Band, Sandwiches, Seafood, Shrimp, things to do