Vendor and Volunteer Applications Open
The Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival has opened up applications for vendors and volunteers.
The festival, hosted by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, takes place from October 10 to the 12th and will be located in Lafayette Square Park at 602 St. Charles Ave. It celebrates the best of Louisiana and Mississippi blues music, with a lineup of local artists performing on the venue's two stages.
In addition to great music, the festival also offers BBQ food and art for attendees to explore. The festival is looking to select its culinary and art vendors for the 2025 festival.
Food Vendors
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is looking for vendors that offer homemade, BBQ style food that can be served a la carte to customers looking to sample the many dishes southern BBQ has to offer. Restaurants and caterers that are licensed, permitted, and insured to sell food in New Orleans are encouraged to apply to be food vendors at the festival.
Food vendors do not need to be from New Orleans to apply, as the festival hopes to highlight a plethora of Southern BBQ styles. Vendors that offer vegetarian and vegan options are also encouraged to apply.
For food vendors that exclusively offer desserts, the application process is the same, but the contract will be different. There is a booth fee of $500, and you must provide your own fire retardant, 10x10 tent. Vendors must agree to steer clear of MSGs and high-fructose corn syrup in their recipes.
Applications are due on July 18 at 11 p.m. There is no fee to apply, but upon acceptance, food vendors must pay a booth rental fee of $1,650, as well as a $500 litter/damage refundable deposit. These fees must be paid two weeks before the start of the festival.
To find out more and apply, click here to be directed to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival's website.
Art Vendors
Applications for art vendors are also open until July 18 at 11 p.m. To apply, you must provide a description of your art medium, price range, three pictures of your art, and one picture of your booth display.
All art mediums are encouraged to apply, as long as items are handmade. Imported goods are also allowed.
If selected, art vendors must pay a $250 booth fee and provide their own flame retardant, 10x10 tent. They also required to bring your own 2A10bc fire extinguisher with proof of inspection.
Click here for more information and to apply.
Volunteers
In addition to food and art vendors, the festival is also looking for volunteers, without whom the event would not be possible.
Volunteers are needed all three days of the festival. Volunteers can indicate their availability in their application, as well as their preference between helping out with greeting or the merchandise booth.
There is one volunteer shift on Friday, October 10 from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th have two volunteer shifts each day, from 9:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
You must be over the age of 18 to volunteer.
About the Fest
The festival is free to attend, and WWOZ New Orleans 90.7 FM will also broadcast the event on the air. It will also be available to watch streaming at wwoz.org.
There are also three-day VIP tickets available for purchase that include front row seating and access to a private lounge. VIP tickets are $315.99 per person.
So far, the Devon Allman Project, featuring Larry McCray, Jimmy Hall, and Sierra Green, is confirmed to perform, following their Blues Summit Tour. The full performer lineup will be announced soon.
Lafayette Square Park is accessible by the St. Charles streetcar and the Magazine Street No.11 bus route. For those driving to the festival, there is paid parking at the Poydras Center, located at 650 Poydras St. There are also several street-level parking lots nearby. There is an ADA accessible drop-off area on Camp Street, as well as special viewing decks of both music stages for those in wheelchairs.
Outside food and drinks will not be allowed, and pets are not permitted. Smoking and vaping are also not permitted. Find out more about attending the festival here.
