'Tis the season for Creole tomatoes! The Creole Tomato Festival hits the French Market this weekend. The true stars of the festival (pictured) will be arriving along with farmers from the areas surrounding New Orleans.
Fleshing the fest out will be music on three stages, food vendors, children's activities, and a culinary stage where one can learn many delicious dishes to make with the Creole tomato or partake in a Creole tomato eating contest. There's also mini-golf, a mobile bookshop, and the French Market regulars' wares for sale.
This the 29th Annual Creole Tomato Festival, named after the particular delicious tomato strain developed at LSU back in the late 1960s. The Creole tomato is designed to fluorish in a hot and humid environment and generally does well in a relatively late tomato growing season harvest.
The 2015 festival happens on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14 from 11am-7pm. Free entry. See below for full performance schedule:
Abita Beer Mainstage at the Old US Mint (Barracks and Decatur Streets)
SATURDAY JUNE 13
11am - 12:30pm Paul Sanchez & Minimum Rage
1pm - 2:30pm Honey Island Swamp Band
3pm - 4:30pm The New Orleans Nightingales
5pm - 6:30pm 101 Runners
SUNDAY JUNE 14
11am - 12:30pm Flow Tribe
1pm - 2:30pm Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen
3pm - 4:30pm Stephanie Jordan
5pm - 6:30pm Johnny Sansone
Cathead Vodka Stage (Dutch Alley Performance Pavilion at St. Phillip & Decatur St.)
SATURDAY JUNE 13
10am - 11:30am Black Dragons
11:45am - 1:15pm Big Daddy O
1:30pm - 3pm Sazerac Sunrise Band
3:30pm - 5pm Leroy Jones Quintet
SUNDAY JUNE 14
10am - 11:30am Kelcy Mae
11:45am - 1:15pm Smoking Time Jazz Club
1:30pm - 3:00pm Washboard Chaz
3:30pm - 5pm Gina Brown
NOLA Baby & Family Magazine Stage at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Visitor Center (Dutch Alley near Dumaine St.)
Note: This is an indoor stage with limited seating; wheelchair and stroller accessible
SATURDAY JUNE 13
10:30am - 11:30am Johnette Downing
12:30pm - 1:30pm Kids Swing and Sing with Jayna Morgan and The Swing Setters
2 - 3pm Songs for Junior Rangers featuring N.O. Jazz Park Ranger musicians
3:30pm - 4:30pm Chorus Girls Project Present: A Creole Tomato Cabaret (a family friendly dance revue)
SUNDAY JUNE 14
10:30am - 11:30am Doc Griggs’ “Get Checked. Get Fit. Get Moving!” with Tornado Brass Band and Dancing Man
12pm to 1pm Funny Bones Improv
1:30pm - 2:30pm Meryl Zimmerman and Friends
3pm - 3:45pm Young Traditional New Orleans Jazz band
4pm - 4:45pm Unheard Voices of Louisiana: Dianne Gumbo Marie Honore’
