Louisiana Food & Wine Festival Happening This Weekend in Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana (KNGT-FM) - Visit Lake Charles is getting ready for another great year of the Louisiana Food and Wine festival! The festival is normally in September, but this year it's moved up to March. It's happening this weekend, and we've got everything you need to know about this year's event...
If you can make it to a festival, someone in Louisiana has probably already done it. Whether it's cracklins, boudin, crawfish, shrimp, duck, fish, watermelon, and so much more. There is pretty much a festival for everything here in Louisiana. What can we say? We like to throw a party!
Each year, the Louisiana Travel Association hosts the Louey Awards to recognize people and organizations that make a big impact on the state’s tourism industry. Back in 2023, the Louisiana Food and Wine Festival took home a Louey Award, highlighting the festival’s success and putting Lake Charles in the spotlight.
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Louisiana Food & Wine Festival Back With New Dates in 2026
The Louisiana Food & Wine Festival is coming back to Lake Charles from March 12–15, 2026. The four-day event will feature more than 300 food and drink tastings and over 40 restaurants from across the state and the South.
The festival is hosted by Visit Lake Charles and celebrates Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole culture. Guests can enjoy seafood, barbecue, sweet treats, craft cocktails, wine, beer, and more. There will also be live music, local artists, and special cooking demos.
2026 Louisiana Food & Wine Festival Ticket Information
Tickets start at $69, and prices vary by event. Early bird tickets are available for several events at a lower price. Children 5 and under get in free to select events. Kids ages 6–12 are $35, and ages 13–17 are $55 for the Sunday brunch.
TICKETS: CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TICKETS
Complete 2026 Louisiana Food & Wine Festival Schedule of Events
March 12, 2026 – Louisiana’s Best Taste Awards will take place from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, with VIP access beginning at 6:00 PM, at L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles. This 21-and-over event features tastings from some of Louisiana’s top chefs, along with wine, beer, spirits, craft cocktails, and live music. Cocktail or business attire is recommended.
March 13, 2026 – Fire on the Lake will be held from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Bord du Lac Park in Lake Charles. This outdoor, rain-or-shine event for guests 21 and older will showcase Southern chefs, pitmasters, and grill masters serving barbecue, seafood, vegetarian dishes, and more. Guests will also enjoy unlimited beverage tastings and live music in a casual setting.
March 14, 2026 – The Festival Grand Tasting runs from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Bord du Lac Park, with VIP early access beginning at 1:00 PM. This 21-and-over outdoor event is the festival’s main attraction and includes hundreds of food and beverage tastings, live music, artisan vendors, cooking demonstrations, and the People’s Choice Best Taste Awards. VIP guests will also enjoy exclusive crawfish tastings, premium beverages, and early entry.
March 15, 2026 – The Sunday Jazz Brunch will be hosted at Ember Grill & Wine Bar at L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles with multiple seating times between 11:00 AM and 2:30 PM. This family-friendly event features a full brunch with carving stations, Louisiana seafood, made-to-order omelets, desserts, unlimited beverage tastings, and live jazz music. Guests can continue enjoying the music and drinks after their reserved seating time.
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Gallery Credit: Chaston