In September, the second annual National Fried Chicken Festival presented by Raising Canes hosted over 166,000 guests at Woldenberg Park on the riverwalk (1 Canal St.), establishing itself as one of the largest free food festivals in the country. This year, the festival projects 200,000 guests.

Last year’s festival created a $7 million economic impact. Proceeds supported Hurricane Harvey victims in Houston, the Second Harvesters Food Bank and more. The festival is now developing a program to train aspiring festival producers to create similar economic growth.

The National Fried Chicken Festival has a new music sponsorship program this year, allowing more new companies to partner with the festival and promote their brand to its attendees. For $2,000, sponsors will receive the “Keep the Festival Free and the Music Playing” package, which includes visible advertising throughout the festival and two one-day passes to the sponsor lounge. For $5,000, sponsors get the “The Beat Goes On” package, which includes even more visible advertising (main stage, performance video screens) and four one-day passes to the sponsor lounge.

All donations are tax-deductible and should be made to Festivals for Good, a 501(c)3 organization and the producers of the National Fried Chicken Festival. Sponsors should contact Cleveland Spears, III of The Spears Group at [email protected] for more information. Check out the recap video from last year’s festival below: