Founded in 2016 in New Orleans, the National Fried Chicken Festival (FCF) presented by Raising Cane’s is a two-day outdoor festival bringing together hundreds of thousands from across the nation around a shared love of great food, music, and culture. Now in its sixth year (after two years of postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the festival attracted a record-breaking 123,000 attendees to the New Orleans Lakefront on Sept. 30 – Oct. 1, 2023.
FCF has grown tremendously since its founding, having moved to its scenic new location on Lakeshore Drive in 2022 and adding 100 yards to its physical footprint (the length of a football field) in 2023, allowing it to feature its largest and most diverse food lineup to date. Over the course of the two days, over 50 participating restaurants representing 13 states showcased their unique dishes, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten- and dairy-free options, ensuring there was truly something for everyone to enjoy the iconic Southern staple. Two local restaurants and FCF newcomers were awarded top honors, with Redbird Fried Chicken winning “Best Fried Chicken” and Bao Mi winning the “Best Use of Fried Chicken in a Dish” competition.
The 2023 edition of the festival was also proud to feature four stages of entertainment, including the Entergy Stage, Cane’s Block Party Stage, Festival Stage, and the new HEINZ® “Food is Culture” Stage with cooking demonstrations, panel discussions, and more, with some of the nation’s top celebrity chefs and culinary thought leaders. The all-star music lineup included headline acts like Big Freedia, The Soul Rebels, Flow Tribe, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Shamarr Allen, and a special 50 Years of Hip Hop New Orleans performance presented by Chip Forstall with legendary artists like Mannie Fresh, PNC, DJ Jubilee, Raj Smoove, and more.
THANK YOU to all those who came from near and far to celebrate with us this past fall! We can’t wait to host you again at FCF 2024.
