Inaugural Fried Chicken Festival is Set for September 25 at Lafayette Square

The inaugural Fried Chicken Festival is set to take place on Sunday, September 25, 2016, at Lafayette Square, located in the Central Business District of New Orleans. FCF is a free outdoor festival that brings food, music, family and festivities together, all in celebration of the classic southern dish. 

"Bringing new experiences to the people of this great city is something that I am passionate about," said Cleveland Spears, III, FCF organizer and President/CEO of the Spears Group. "This event will bring a unique twist to a very popular Southern dish, and it will become a new experience that is uniquely New Orleans."  

The festival will include events such as the Fried Chicken Wing Eating Contest and the Best Fried Chicken Contest, which will be judged by local and national food writers, bloggers and critics. In addition, there will be live entertainment and more than 20 restaurants providing their own unique twist on the beloved dish. 

"We are excited to be an inaugural partner of the Fried Chicken Festival," said Toni Rice, President of New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network. "The festival will celebrate the culture of this city and various cuisines from around the world." 

New Orleans is famous for its numerous world-renowned festivals hosted throughout the city each year. Festivals like FCF are the main economic driver for the city's local restaurants, hotels, shops and attractions. 

"The city of New Orleans hosts more than 130 permitted festivals each year, and we are so excited to know that a Fried Chicken Festival will now join those ranks" said Mark Romig, President and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. "I applaud Cleveland Spears and his team for bringing yet another culinary experience to our great city. Locals and tourists alike will get an opportunity to enjoy New Orleans' rich tradition of celebration." 

"NOLA Brewery is proud to support such an amazing event," said Kirk Coco, Chief Executive Officer for NOLA Brewery. "Being a part of new traditions and experiences is our company's philosophy. The Fried Chicken Festival is an event that will become an immediate New Orleans tradition."