Beignet Fest

05/04/2026

Excited to share our music lineup for the 9th Annual Beignet Fest with support from New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation. Same place, same great cause!! Tickets go on sale in August.

04/25/2026

Welcome to New Orleans, sir. We will have plenty beignets for you!

04/21/2026

The Beignet Fest Foundation's Sensory On-Site Spaces program was well received at French Quarter Fest this past weekend! We helped 139 people enjoy the festival while managing their sensory needs, either by taking a few minutes of respite in Benny's Sensory Activation Vehicle or by picking up a sensory bag with tools to use as they walked around. You can learn more about our community programs at beignetfoundation.com. Thank you for having us, French Quarter Festivals, Inc!

04/15/2026

We’re proud to be back at French Quarter Fest this weekend with Benny’s S.O.S. (Sensory On-Site Spaces) — one of our mission-driven programs designed to support individuals on the autism spectrum and others with sensory sensitivities.

Our goal is simple: Create a space where people can pause, reset and recharge so they can fully enjoy the festival experience.

Our Sensory Activation Vehicle will be on site all weekend. It’s free and open to anyone who needs it. Our team is there to help.

💙 The walls and floor are lightly carpeted.
💙 The lighting is kept low.
💙 There’s air conditioning to keep it cool.
💙 There are wooden puzzles, soft bean bag chairs, an interactive colored-light panel, and textured elements for tactile sensory input.

Why it matters:
Sensory overload at large events is more common than many realize. An estimated 20–30% of people are highly sensitive to stimulation.
1 in 31 individuals is diagnosed on the autism spectrum and susceptible to sensory overload, meltdowns, and the like.

We believe festivals should be welcoming and accessible to everyone. This is one way we help make that real.

Where to find us:
Look for the big blue unit with Benny the Beignet in front of the Aquarium.

Benny’s S.O.S. is funded through proceeds raised at the annual Beignet Fest (SAVE THE DATE: NOV. 7, 2026) and the generous support of our donors and sponsors, including French Quarter Festivals, Inc and Visit New Orleans.

This work is personal for us, and we are honored to share it with our community. If you or someone you love could use a quiet moment this weekend, we’re here. 💙

04/02/2026

We’re thrilled to be doing good work for the ASD community this and every month!

03/12/2026

Beignet Fest Named Top 10 Specialty Food Festival by USA TODAY, earning the No. 8 spot in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

The national recognition places Beignet Fest among the country’s premier food festivals, as voted on by readers following nominations from a panel of culinary and travel experts and editors with USA TODAY’s USA TODAY 10Best.

03/12/2026

🗞️BIG NEWS!🗞️ Beignet Fest Named Top 10 Specialty Food Festivals by USA TODAY

Beignet Fest has been named one of the Top 10 Best Specialty Food Festivals in the United States, earning the No. 8 spot in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

The national recognition places Beignet Fest among the country’s premier food festivals, as voted on by readers following nominations from a panel of culinary and travel experts and editors with USA TODAY’s USA TODAY 10Best.

The official results were announced on Wednesday, March 11.

“This honor means a lot because it comes directly from the public,” said Sherwood Collins, founder and executive director of the Beignet Fest Foundation and executive producer of Beignet Fest. “Beignet Fest started as a way to celebrate a beloved New Orleans treat while raising awareness and funding for children on the autism spectrum. To now be recognized nationally among the country’s best food festivals is incredibly meaningful for our team and our community.”

The 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Specialty Food Festival ranked as follows:

1. Delta Hot Tamale Festival
2. Maine Whoopie Pie Festival
3. Picklesburgh
4. Cheese Curd Festival
5. National Buffalo Wing Festival
6. National Shrimp Festival
7. Oregon Chocolate Festival
8. Beignet Fest
9. Kauai Poke Fest
10. Drinks With Benefits

“These nominations were compiled by food and travel experts before being put to a nationwide public vote,” Collins said. “We are proud to represent New Orleans and Louisiana on this list.”

03/09/2026

Just a reminder to our thirsty New Orleanians...

02/20/2026

Have y'all been voting daily?? We're currently at 7th, and would love to finish strong!!

Every November in NOLA, Beignet Fest dusts the New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds with enough powdered sugar to resemble an early snowfall. Expect traditional square beignets alongside creative variations stuffed with crawfish, gumbo, and candied sweet potatoes. Local chefs compete and demonstra...

02/12/2026

Catch our SAV at Sat and Sunday; Vote for in the USA Today 10 Best poll (link in bio). Thanks as well to for helping power us this weekend!

02/04/2026

Going to parades in New Orleans this weekend and thinking about how to navigate it with a loved one who may be hyper-sensitive to the sights and sounds? All are welcome to stop in and utilize our Benny's S.O.S. Sensory Activation Vehicle for respite or re-set.

This year, we're partnering with footprintproject.org to provide green electrical power to the climate-controlled space, with low lighting that features elements to help individuals find a better frame of mind amid the excitement. We offer this as a free community service. There’s no charge to utilize the unit.

We will also have sensory bags available for folks as a free resource with noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, and visual cue cards on how to communicate feelings when words are difficult.

More information on our Benny's S.O.S. program can be found at www.beignetfest.com/charitable-cause/bennys-sensory-on-site-spaces/

We’ll see you on the parade route!