Here in New Orleans, a festival’s food lineup is just as important as the musical acts themselves. How festivals in other states roll with a single hot dog stand and a half-assed stocked bar is beyond us.

The Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival returns for its 13th year June 22-23 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and is serving tens, tens, tens across the board. The fest boasts the best Cajun-Zydeco acts in the biz: the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Dwayne Dopsie and Bruce Daigrepont to name a few. There are buku local vendors plating up savory and sweet dishes throughout Armstrong Park. Dance, munch out, and rejoice, as entry is our favorite price: free! Ça c’est bon bébé!

Savor Da Flavor

Angelo Brocato’s is keeping on theme, serving crab cakes topped with a Cajun crawfish sauce. Fried food is a must when festin’ so save room for Cafe Dauphine’s deep fried seafood bell peppers. Skip the flowers and buy your girl crab meat beignets from Loretta’s Pralines instead and see what that do. If you haven’t experienced the Cajun surf and turf (aka smothered rabbit po-boy with fried shrimp) from Voleo’s Seafood Restaurant methinks you cannot possibly consider yourself a po-boy connoisseur.

Sweet Treats

It’s hot as hell and there ain’t no denying it. There are plenty of options to cool you down in between your boot scoot and two step. Quintin’s Natural Ice Cream & Sorbet is your one-stop ice cream shop with assorted flavors like vanilla bean, double chocolate and café au lait. When I read that Keyala’s Pralines was serving praline topped pound cakes, I literally started drooling. Li’l Dustin’s has that Italian ice ice baby, and Cool Fruit Sensations is whipping up handmade healthy fresh fruit drink combos.

For more menu items and full details check out the official website for Cajun-Zydeco Fest.