Fat Tuesday Southern Food and Music Festival

Overview

The spirit of New Orleans is headed to Melbourne. Hosted by Gumbo Kitchen, the fourth annual Fat Tuesday Southern Food and Music Festival will once again combine Louisiana jazz with old style Cajun and Creole cuisine. You'll swear your partying right on the Mississippi.

Fat Tuesday, better known by its French name Mardi Gras, traditionally marks the day before the beginning of Lent — hence all the fatty foods. Whether you'll be fasting on Wednesday, it'll be hard to resist this festival's smorgasbord of dining options, with catering by some of Melbourne's favourite Southern-style food joints including Bluebonnet Barbecue, Po' Boy Quarter and Girl with the Gris Gris. Nola craft beer outfit Abita will provide the beverages, along with cocktails by West Winds Gin.

The live music lineup, meanwhile, will see the likes of brass band Horns of Leroy and The Johnny Can't Dance Cajun trio creating all kinds of danceworthy havoc. The fun all starts in Hardy Reserve, Carlton North at 5pm.