17th annual ‘Cooking in Central’ festival returns this weekend

CENTRAL, La. (Louisiana First) – What better way to kick off the weekend than with amazing food and great music? You can do all that and more at the 17th Annual Cooking in Central Festival.

Mayor Wade Evans said the purpose is to showcase the culture, faith, and pride of Central, Louisiana.

“This festival is something that we started 17 years ago to raise money for our schools. And then the next year, we raised money for other areas… we bought school buses and then we bought a fire truck,” said Wade.

This two-day event gives families a chance to hear live music, see a car show, participate in carnival fun, and enjoy a cook-off.

The event is this weekend on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29, at “The Amazing Place”, located at 10305 Blackwater Road. Attendees can buy a $25 wristband for three-hour intervals of fun. To learn more, visit the festival website.

Weekend Rundown

• Epic Cook-Off: Watch top cooks battle it out in Brisket, Jambalaya, Pastalaya, BBQ Chicken & more!
• Live Music All Weekend: Thomas Cain and Parish County Line will perform on Friday, and the Chris Leblanc Band and Lauren Lee Band will perform on Saturday.
• Car Show: Come see Southern Muscle American Car and Truck Club!
• Carnival Fun: Bring the family and experience carnival rides for all!
• Food for Sale: Enjoy boiled crawfish, burgers, award-winning cook-off dishes, and more!

Vendor set ups: Come see what the vendors are bringing to the table

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