The Family Style Food Festival is headed to New Orleans.
Coinciding with Super Bowl LIX weekend, the free one-day event aims to highlight the Big Easy’s rich culinary culture through a curated lineup of its best bars and restaurants in the city.
“It has always been a dream for us to do something in New Orleans,” festival co-founder Miles Canares told Eater New Orleans. “And we knew if we were going to come in here, it was going to be a little different than how we normally approach things… [ensuring] the people who keep the city running 365 days a year, outside of these special moments, feel included and appreciated.”
When will Family Style Food Fest New Orleans take place?
The immersive festival will go down from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, February 8 at StudioBe, 2941 Royal St. The venue is owned by renowned NOLA-based artist Brandan “BMIKE” Odums, who will also host the festival.
“I think what won me over with Family Style was the idea of being able to amplify other New Orleans staples, big and small,” Odums said in a promotional video. “So, I’m super excited. I think it’s going to be amazing.”
Although the event is free (thanks to a partnership with Cash App/Square), you can RSVP to the festival here.
Which bars and restaurants are participating?
Family Style Fest New Orleans will feature a mix of time-honored establishments and newer joints on the path to legendary status. The restaurants include Commander’s Palace, Mister Mao, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, Chicken’s Kitchen, Acamaya, Hot Stuff!, Turkey and the Wolf, Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe, Ms. Linda the YaKaMein Lady, and Cane & Table.
As for the bars/lounges, visitors can enjoy beverages from Compère Lapin, Chandelier Bar, NightBloom, Barrel Proof, The Will & The Way, Cure, Jewel of the South, LOA Bar, and more.
Who’s performing at the festival?
Houston rapper Don Toliver will headline Family Style Fest New Orleans just months after he took the stage at ComplexCon Las Vegas. Toliver continues to ride the success of his 2024 studio album, Hardstone Psycho, which debuted at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 chart and led the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.
Seattle-based DJ/producer SANGO and New Orleans native Mannie Fresh will also deliver live performances.
Inside Family Style Food Fest's merch
Festival organizers have also cooked up a streetwear capsule in collaboration with NOLA restaurants. The collection includes everything from graphic tees to embroidered snapbacks to track jackets and tote bags. The collaborators are Commander’s Palace, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, Turkey and the Wolf, Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe, Mister Mao, Acamaya, and Chicken’s Kitchen. There will also be Family Style merch celebrating Super Bowl LIX.
The capsule will be available to purchase online. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the participating restaurants.
Family Style Food Fest gives back to the NOLA community
The event also aims to support Eternal Seeds, an art-focused non-profit founded by Odums and the StudioBE team. The organization aims to serve young and emerging artists through “education, empowerment, and the preservation of New Orleans Black history and culture.”
You can donate to Eternal Seeds’ efforts here.
Online gambling platform Monkey Tilt will also set up the Monkey Tilt Vault, an activation in which attendees can try to win $1 million.
