NEW ORLEANS – The 1st annual Blessing of the Tomatoes takes place today, at 10:00 a.m., in anticipation of the 30th annual French Market Creole Tomato Festival, to be held Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, 2016, throughout the French Market District.
The Very Reverend Father Phillip G. Landry from St. Louis Cathedral will offer a blessing of three crates of tomatoes in front of the French Market, where a larger than life Creole tomato cut-out decorates the iconic archway, at the corner of N. Peters and Ursulines Streets. Also present will be several members of the Chorus Girls Project, dressed in tomato costumes, as a preview to their 3rd annual Creole Tomato Cabaret, accompanied by the Centennial Jazz Band from the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.
The 30th anniversary commemorative poster will be unveiled and samples of Creole tomatoes will be served.
Speakers will include:
• Mark Romig, President and CEO, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation
• Demetric Mercadel, President, Board of Directors, The French Market Corporation
• Nadine M. Ramsey, Councilmember District “C”
• Timmy Perilloux, Vegetable Farmer, a regular vendor at Crescent City Farmers Market, who is providing the tomatoes for the blessing
Some highlights of the 30th Annual French Market Creole Tomato Festival include, new this year:
• This year’s festival’s mainstage will be at Crescent Park, along with food trucks, live musical entertainment and an arts and crafts bazaar.
• A Ripe & Ready 5k Rally will be held at 8:30 a.m. on the fest opening day Saturday June 11, with runners beginning and ending at Crescent Park.
• A Bloody Mary Market will be placed in Dutch Alley, in between an arts market produced by Dutch Alley Artists Co-Op at Dumaine and a music stage at Dutch Alley Performance Pavilion at St. Phillip. The market will feature 10 Bloody Mary options.
• Yoga on the Lawn at the Mint will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Centennial Stage on Saturday June 11, rather than indoors at the Mint where it is currently being held while the Jazz Park Visitor Center in Dutch Alley is under renovation.
• The festival’s recent tradition (since 2014) of The Ripe & Ready Rally will begin this year at the Old U.S. Mint on the Centennial Stage, led by Doc Griggs and Dancing Man with Free Agents Brass Band. Robin Barnes of “Move your Brass” conducting a special 25 minute “Bounce Your Brass” onstage prior to the rally, following yoga, to blend into and become part of the rally. After a brief rally, the band will lead a secondline through fest grounds through the Flea and Farmers Markets through to Dutch Alley to Washington Artillery Park to end with the FIRST BITE OF THE SEASON, when 100 tomatoes are offered to the general public to enjoy as a fest opener.
• The Tomato Soiree replaces the former Summer Harvest Gala, which was held in 2014 and 2015 at the Flea Market Pavilion the Wed prior to fest. This year’s re-fest event will be held indoors at the newly renovated Marche, operated by Creole Cuisine Concepts, the newest tenant to join the French Market District. Tickets are $75. Sunpie Barnes will perform, and awards will be given to longtime fest vendors and staff.
• A new FAMILY CARE STATION, an indoor baby changing/ lactation station for parents and their little ones will be created indoors at the Mint across from the Jazz Park Gift Store, first floor.
• The annual Creole Tomato Eating Contest will expand to two days, with an adult and child category both days at 12:30. (Previously there were contests on just one day of the festival).
Old and new traditions include:
• Fest goers who support the retail shops in the French Market District, from the Shops at the Upper Pontalba to the Shops on the Colonnade on Decatur, will receive a voucher to receive complimentary bag of fresh creole tomatoes from ben & ben becnel, Inc. Patrons will receive a voucher for $30 or more spent at an establishment.
• Ben & Ben Becnel Farms will sell from the main farmers market stalls, near the Louisiana Cookin’ Culinary Stage. Vouchers earned by patrons who shop for $30 or more of goods in FMC District shops will redeem their vouchers for complimentary tomatoes here.
• George’s Produce will sell tomatoes near the food booths, located along Barracks in front of the Old U.S. Mint. He will offer creole tomato samples, and other fresh local produce as well as his preserves, dressings, and more. He will be located next door to his food booth that was a Best of the Fest winner in …
• The 3rd annual Best of the Fest Food Booth Awards will be given out Saturday at 1:30 by a panel of judges to include Peggy and Errol Laborde, WWOZ special guests, and others.
• The Creole Tomato Cabaret by The Chorus Girls Project makes a reprise, this year at the Centennial Stage.
Additional Fest highlights include:
• The Louisiana Cookin Culinary stage will feature morning Tomato Talks with Dianne GumboMarie Honore. She will interview Chef Kevin Belton on Saturday and George LaFargue on Sunday. Chef demonstrations occur every hour between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
• The nola baby and family magazine’s family entertainment stage at the Mint will feature new work by Uptown Music Theatre, Crescent City Lights Youth Theater, and a special joint performance by Patrice Fisher and Arpa with The International School of Circus Arts performing with stiltwalkers, jugglers, and more.
