NEW ORLEANS – The second annual National Fried Chicken Festival (FCF) presented by Raising Cane's has attracted the attention of marquee brands such as AT&T, State Farm, Best Buy, Capital One Bank, Sucré and more, providing festival goers with new experiences.
FCF is set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Woldenberg Park, the site of Super Bowl Blvd., Lundi Gras, French Quarter Festival and other major events.
The inaugural free festival brought nearly 40,000 chicken lovers out to Lafayette Square in 2016 and organizers are planning for more than 100,000 festivalgoers over the two-day fall weekend in 2017.
"Our team has worked very hard over the last year to identify brands that we believe align with our festival and collaborated with them to create experiences that we are confident our guests will really enjoy," said Cleveland Spears, III, president and CEO of the Spears Group and FCF organizer.
The 2017 festival will feature 35 restaurant vendors from across the U.S., three stages (two music stages and a cooking demo stage), live entertainment, celebrity chefs, The American Federation for Children Kids' Coop, the AT&T and Best Buy Football Fan Zone, the Sucré Sweet Spot, the return of the Moet Chicken and Champagne VIP Lounge and more. Also, the Raising Cane's ONE LOVE wall will make a return for festivalgoers to share messages of love and encouragement as well as what they love about fried chicken.
Back for its second year, the Moet Chicken and Champagne Lounge provides guests with a special VIP Experience. Located adjacent to the main stage with private viewing areas and onstage access, each $60 VIP day pass includes Moet champagne, one Belvedere vodka specialty cocktail and one dish from the iconic Willie Mae's Restaurant for festival goers who want to upgrade their experience.
One of the festival's sweetest attractions includes the addition of the Sucré Sweet Spot. The New Orleans-based confectionary will set-up a pop-up store where guests can purchase a selection of desserts such as chocolate dipped macarons and other sweet treats prepared by Chef Tariq Hanna.
Adding to the festival's list of new experiences, the cooking demo stage will be anchored by celebrity Chef Jeff Henderson. An award-winning chef and bestselling author, Henderson is most known for his Food Network TV show "Flip My Food." Henderson has served as executive chef at the renowned Café Bellagio and Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and has become one of the most inspirational chefs in the country. He has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs and print publications, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Good Morning America," "The Montel Williams Show," CNBC, NPR's All Things Considered, People and USA Today.
To ensure guests do not have to choose between the festival and their favorite college or NFL games, festival attendees will have access to AT&T and Best Buy Football Fan Zone. The expansive space will provide patrons with the opportunity to view NCAA and NFL football taking place that weekend. Located next to the Sucre Sweet Shop, kids and families can also enjoy the American Federation for Children Kids' Coop which will include face painting, spacewalks, and karate demonstrations and much more.
The festival will also feature the GoNOLA Mist & Chill Lounge sponsored by the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corporation (NOTMC). The tented area will feature misters, lounge furniture, and ample space for festival goers to relax and keep cool, event reps said.
FCF brings food, music, family, and festivities together, all in celebration of the classic Southern dish.
The National Fried Chicken Festival presented by Raising Cane's is also sponsored by NOLA Brewery, NOTMC, New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network, The Advocate Newspapers, Southern Glaziers, Willie's Chicken Shack, Event Rentals, Event Restroom, iHeart Media, WWL-TV and Inthenola.com.
