The Bywater Mirliton Festival
What's a Mirliton?:
Anyone who knows anything about New Orleans knows that we have a festival just about every weekend, especially in spring and fall. We love to celebrate life, and all the good things in life. This one is about the mirliton. A mirliton is New Orleans' favorite vegetable. You may know it as a Chayote. But, in New Orleans where they grow so well, it's always a mirliton (say mel-a-tawn).
It's always a favorite at either in a cooked in a casserole with fresh shrimp and crabmeat, or individually stuffed with seafood, sausage, or ham. Everyone has their favorite recipe.
Truly a Neighborhood Produced Festival:
As with most festivals in New Orleans, the fest has great food, music, and artwork. One of the things makes this festival special is that it is run by all volunteers. The Bywater Neighborhood Association puts on the event yearly. All of the members of the planning committe and workers at the festival--with exception of food and art vendors-- are volunteers. Money earned at the festival goes back into the community through beautification projects, tree planting, and other projects that will benefit the community such as Alvar Arts.
The Festival:
The Bywater Neighborhood Association has sponsored the Mirliton Festival every year for over 20 years. It's always on a Saturday in November when the mirlitons are at their best. The festival is in Mickey Markey Park on the corner of Piety and Royal in the heart of the Bywater neighborhood.
Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12. For all the information about the festival and for directions, go to the official website.
The Food:
Since this is the Mirliton Festival, you can sample mirlitons cooked every way imaginable. The wonderful thing about mirlitons is that they taste good on their on and they are healthy. But, the best thing is that they blend so well with our local, fresh seafood, meats and spices. There will be lots of fresh Louisiana seafood, local meats, spices and seasonings blended into the mirlitons so that there will be something delicious to tempt anyone's taste buds.
The Restaurants in Bywater:
The businesses in Bywater support the festival and many of them have a booth at the festival, including, Frady's, The Joint, Jack Dempsey's, Cafe Roux, Sally's Country Gourmet Foods, Sugar Park, Maurepas Foods, Satsuma and Meltdown. Bacchanal will suppy wine and the Try Me Coffee Shop will have coffee.
The Music:
Of course no New Orleans festival is complete without great music. On the stage set up in Mickey Markey Park this year's music lineup includes: Kermit Ruffins, a rare pairing of Guitar Lightning Lee and Little Freddy King, King James and the Special Men, Tuba Skinny, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Happy Talk, and The Tumbleweeds.
The Art:
The Bywater Neighborhood Association is also known for their juried art shows. During the Mirliton Festival, one of the art shows will be happening. This art show and sale always draws some of the best artists and artisans in area. Original paintings, woodworks, masks, sculptures, hats and folk arts are some of the fine arts on display for sale.
Bywater:
New Orleans is a city of neighborhoods and the Bywater is one of the oldest. It's down river from the French Quarter and the Marigny, with a rich history and culture. It's an interesting neighborhood of modest, 19th Century Creole homes and shotguns where many renovations are happening. For more information about the neighborhood, and the Mirliton Festival go to the Bywater website.
Anyone who knows anything about New Orleans knows that we have a festival just about every weekend, especially in spring and fall. We love to celebrate life, and all the good things in life. This one is about the mirliton. A mirliton is New Orleans' favorite vegetable. You may know it as a Chayote. But, in New Orleans where they grow so well, it's always a mirliton (say mel-a-tawn).
It's always a favorite at either in a cooked in a casserole with fresh shrimp and crabmeat, or individually stuffed with seafood, sausage, or ham. Everyone has their favorite recipe.
Truly a Neighborhood Produced Festival:
As with most festivals in New Orleans, the fest has great food, music, and artwork. One of the things makes this festival special is that it is run by all volunteers. The Bywater Neighborhood Association puts on the event yearly. All of the members of the planning committe and workers at the festival--with exception of food and art vendors-- are volunteers. Money earned at the festival goes back into the community through beautification projects, tree planting, and other projects that will benefit the community such as Alvar Arts.
The Festival:
The Bywater Neighborhood Association has sponsored the Mirliton Festival every year for over 20 years. It's always on a Saturday in November when the mirlitons are at their best. The festival is in Mickey Markey Park on the corner of Piety and Royal in the heart of the Bywater neighborhood.
Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 12. For all the information about the festival and for directions, go to the official website.
The Food:
Since this is the Mirliton Festival, you can sample mirlitons cooked every way imaginable. The wonderful thing about mirlitons is that they taste good on their on and they are healthy. But, the best thing is that they blend so well with our local, fresh seafood, meats and spices. There will be lots of fresh Louisiana seafood, local meats, spices and seasonings blended into the mirlitons so that there will be something delicious to tempt anyone's taste buds.
The Restaurants in Bywater:
The businesses in Bywater support the festival and many of them have a booth at the festival, including, Frady's, The Joint, Jack Dempsey's, Cafe Roux, Sally's Country Gourmet Foods, Sugar Park, Maurepas Foods, Satsuma and Meltdown. Bacchanal will suppy wine and the Try Me Coffee Shop will have coffee.
The Music:
Of course no New Orleans festival is complete without great music. On the stage set up in Mickey Markey Park this year's music lineup includes: Kermit Ruffins, a rare pairing of Guitar Lightning Lee and Little Freddy King, King James and the Special Men, Tuba Skinny, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Happy Talk, and The Tumbleweeds.
The Art:
The Bywater Neighborhood Association is also known for their juried art shows. During the Mirliton Festival, one of the art shows will be happening. This art show and sale always draws some of the best artists and artisans in area. Original paintings, woodworks, masks, sculptures, hats and folk arts are some of the fine arts on display for sale.
Bywater:
New Orleans is a city of neighborhoods and the Bywater is one of the oldest. It's down river from the French Quarter and the Marigny, with a rich history and culture. It's an interesting neighborhood of modest, 19th Century Creole homes and shotguns where many renovations are happening. For more information about the neighborhood, and the Mirliton Festival go to the Bywater website.
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