Organizers of Fried Chicken Fest and Gentilly Fest in New Orleans are confident their events will go on as planned this weekend despite concerns about Tropical Storm Isaias.
Fried Chicken Fest organizers are prepared to welcome attendees after last week’s bad weather caused the event to be postponed.
“It’s been a wild and crazy two weeks of weather for us here in South Louisiana, and certainly for us as we’re trying to put this festival on. We have direct contact with the National Weather Service, and with local meteorologists,” founder Cleveland Spears III said.
The festival, which begins Friday, will feature three days of food, music and culture.
“Three stages of entertainment,” Spears said. “That’s our two music stages, as well as Mike’s Amazing Culinary Stage,” organizers said.
Gentilly Fest is also set to take place this weekend at Pontchartrain Park.
“It’s a free festival, with free admission,” organizer Gretchen Bradford said. “So you get three days of great music and entertainment. Friday night is jazz under the stars. It’s a wonderful date night, come with your date.”
Organizers of Gentilly Fest are monitoring the weather but remain optimistic.
Both festivals are prepared to address any rain that may occur.
“We’d do a pause and invite folks to either seek shelter under a tent here, or under the covered awnings under the Lakefront Arena. Then the show will resume after that,” Spears said.
Gentilly Fest organizers shared similar plans.
“If we have to pause, we will pause because safety is our number one priority. But as it stands, we are moving forward no matter what,” they said.
Que Pasa Fest at Lafreniere Park announced it has canceled the event due to the threat of tropical weather.
Crescent City Blues and BBQ at Lafayette Square and Oktober Fest at Deutsches Haus are also moving forward as planned.
READ MORE:New Orleans-area festivals monitor tropical weather ahead of busy weekend
