The 2012 Oak Street Po-Boy Festival, sponsored by Abita Brewery, happens Sunday, November 18. More than 30 featured vendors will serve New Orleans’ finest sweet and savory po-boys amid a number of panel discussions covering historical topics on po-boys, local culinary markets and their evolutions and a taste of the neighborhood heritage of Carrollton, where the festival takes place.
Among several refinements made to this year’s event, music will be featured on two stages: Leander’s Main Stage (at Leonidas and Plum) and the Festival’s Featured Charity Stage (at Monroe and Oak). The set-up is located off of Oak in order to preserve the whole eight-block radius for pedestrian flow.
Pictured: Los Po-Boy Citos. Not pictured: Po-Boys. Get 'em both this Sunday. Photo: Elsa Hahne.
Appearing first on Leander’s at 11:30 a.m. are the Los Po-Boy-Citos. The boogaloo band formed in the Garden District back in 2006 and has since become a favorite at NOLA festivals.
Afternoon performances on the Main Stage include Flow Tribe and the Honey Island Swamp Band, while over at the Charity Stage, festgoers can enjoy performances from Tipitina’s Foundation interns. Following them, the Sunday Youth Music Workshop, presented by Johnny Vidacovich, Cliff Hines and Chris Severin starts at 1 p.m. The event is part of the Tipitina’s Foundation’s workshop series created to give students in New Orleans the opportunity to learn from (and practice with) the city’s most celebrated musicians. It’s a chance for aspiring youth to gain an improvisational experience in music education. The workshop is free, though students wishing to participate should bring their instruments with them.
Another fresh addition at this year’s festival is Kid’s World, a section of family-friendly activities and food set aside on the beautiful campus of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.
The Po-Boy Festival begins at 11 a.m. this Sunday, November 18 in the Uptown neighborhood of Oak Street between Carrollton and Eagle Street. Admission is free.
— Beck “zaelyna” Brexlyn
