More than 40 of New Orleans’ finest po-boy purveyors will all be pushing the boundaries of the city’s signature sandwich on Sunday at the annual Oak Street Po-Boy Festival.
On the food menu are po-boys with Thai pork, confit pork cheek, fried lobster, veal grillades, rabbit salad, “smoky Abita BLT shrimp,” paté and pickled vegetables, oysters rockefeller, as well as all sorts of variations on standbys such as roast beef, sausage and seafood. The spirit of experimentation extends beyond the sandwiches with entries such as chocolate-dipped Zapp’s chips.
The festival’s three stages will include performances from George Porter Jr. & His Runnin Pardners, the Rebirth Brass Band, Papa Grows Funk and other Oak Street stalwarts. A full day’s worth of discussions on the cultural significance of the po-boy are planned, in addition to arts and crafts for children and a new area for relaxation known as Parkway Plaza. This year, the festival will also introduce VIP wristbands starting at $150 that allow the bearers to bypass the lines and park in a reserved lot.
While this was formerly my favorite of all fests, last year was a nightmare. The problem of huge crowds was compounded by a layout that made parts of Oak St. impassable. Has anything been done to address this problem? Even if you spend 150 bucks on a VIP bracelet it will not do much good if the entire street is jam packed.
Correction to title: “People in line for po-boys to take over Oak Street on Sunday.”
Get there early. That’s the only way to avoid the crowds. Also, have a refuge planned (mine is More Fun Comics).