NEW IBERIA, LA. (KLFY) — The 35th World Championship Gumbo Cookoff is set to take place this weekend in New Iberia bringing together dozens of teams to compete in this beloved culinary tradition.

Andree Schilcher, of Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce said the cookoff has evolved from a small local event into a significant Louisiana tradition, attracting top cooks from across the state.

“It is a two day affair. On Saturday, we have our food festival where people can come and taste a variety of foods that some of our booths are cooking.” Schilcher said. “We also have our meanest beans competition, and we have our youth gumbo competition. And then on Sunday, we have just gumbo. Every booth is gunna be cooking gumbo, whether it is chicken and sausage, seafood, or melange.”

Each year, teams set up along Main Street, hoping to win big and earn bragging rights.

“The official judging takes place mid-day Sunday, and the awards are announced around 3, 3:30 on Sunday,” Schlicher added.

The event offers something for everyone in the family, making it a popular attraction for both locals and visitors. With its combination of competitive cooking and community celebration, the cookoff highlights the cultural significance of gumbo in Louisiana.

As the cookoff unfolds, participants and spectators alike will enjoy a weekend filled with delicious food and friendly competition, celebrating the rich culinary heritage of Louisiana.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.

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