Fried Chicken Fest has been postponed due to threats of possible flash flooding.
The festival will now be held from Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 11.
The 10th-anniversary celebration was supposed to happen on Friday, Oct. 2 until Sunday, Oct. 4, and included performances from Nelly, Dillon Francis, 2 Chainz, Keri Hilson, the Ying Yang Twins, Big Freedia, and more.
In a news release, the festival says the rescheduled weekend will still include 2 Chainz, Ying Yang Twins, Keri Hilson, A-Trak, Webbie, Big Freedia with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), Marc Broussard, Shamarr Allen, and dozens of additional local and regional performers.
According to the festival, Nelly and Dillon Francis are unavailable for the new dates.
“Due to the festival’s rescheduled dates, he was unfortunately unable to accommodate the new weekend because of a prior commitment. Nelly and his team expressed their sincere regret that he could not return, and the festival is already in conversations with his team about the possibility of welcoming him back in 2027,” said the National Fried Chicken Festival organizers.
“We are incredibly grateful to our artists, partners, restaurants and everyone behind the scenes who worked with us to make this transition possible,” said Cleveland Spears III, Founder and Executive Producer of the National Fried Chicken Festival. “Moving an event of this size on such short notice is no small undertaking, and being able to preserve nearly all of the experience we had planned for our 10th anniversary means a great deal to us. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the Lakefront next weekend.”
Friday, Oct. 9 will kick off the weekend with Locals Day and celebrate Louisiana music, community, and culture. This day will include performances from Marc Broussard. Shamarr Allen, DJ Jess, ANTWIGADEE!, Mikey Offline, and the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Jazz Camp Ensemble.
Saturday will only feature New Orleans performances from Big Freedia with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Baton Rouge native Webbie.
Sunday, Oct. 11 will feature 2 Chainz, Keri Hilson, and the Ying Yang Twins, as well as A-Trak.
The festival organizers also announced the 2nd annual FCF 5k run/walk will take place on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 8:30 a.m. on Franklin Avenue before gates open.
Tickets have been reduced back to their original on-sale early-bird levels, including both single-day and weekend passes.
For more information or to buy a ticket, visit the Fried Chicken Fest website here.
READ MORE:New Orleans Fried Chicken Fest postponed; Nelly, Dillon Francis no longer available
