Who’s Competing at the 2026 Louisiana Food & Wine Festival?

Plus Culinary and Beverage Vendor List for Each Day

3 hours ago

Alyssa Schiaffino,

2025 Louisiana Food & Wine Festival — By Kathryn Shea Duncan

LAKE CHARLES – The 2026 Louisiana Food & Wine Festival, hosted by Visit Lake Charles, takes place March 12 – 15 in Lake Charles. The four-day event schedule offers a range of tastings, live cooking expositions, music and more.

Additionally, the festival announced a final opportunity to save $15 on Louisiana Food & Wine Festival Tickets with promo code FINAL15 when purchasing any individual ticket on the festival’s website. The promo code expires at midnight on Friday, March 13.

There are also new opportunities to save approximately 30% with new Ticket Package discount bundles (29-32% discount depending upon the package). There are a limited number of packages available, including a Weekend Package, a Weekend VIP Package, an All-Access General Admission Package and an All-Access VIP Package.

You can purchase tickets online.

But, if you’re still on the fence about attending, check out our guide below on what you can expect from the vendors and who’s competing.

2026 Louisiana Food & Wine Festival Participants

Thursday, March 12: Louisiana’s Best Taste Awards (6:30 – 8:30 p.m.)

Where: L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles

An interactive walk-around of creations by chefs from the region and throughout the state. This professionally judged event will reveal the winners of Louisiana’s Best Taste Awards.

Beverage tasting stations include wine, beer, spirits and craft cocktails
Indoor and outdoor seating
Tasting stations with live music

Participating Talent:

Amanda Cussey, executive chef of The Terrace
Benny Gray, executive chef of 121 Artisan Bistro
Chad Jackson, chef and culinary arts instructor at SOWELA Technical Community College
Dave Evans, owner and executive chef at Luna Bar & Grill and Augustine
Earline Thomas, chef and culinary arts instructor at SOWELA Technical Community College
Jerry Sonnier, chef and culinary arts instructor at SOWELA Technical Community College
John McGrew, executive chef of Crying Eagle Brewing – University
Hardette Harris, owner & executive chef of Us Up North
Karlos Knott, executive chef of Cajun Saucer, “2025 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off King”
Kevin McCarthy, executive chef of L’Auberge Lake Charles
Lyle Broussard, executive chef of Crying Eagle Brewing – Lakefront
Roy Angelle, chef and culinary arts instructor at SOWELA Technical Community College
Ryan Kennedy, wine director at Bodega Restaurant & Wine Bar and Vin Ami
Stephen Coblentz, executive chef at Chart House at the Golden Nugget Lake Charles
Sullivan Zant, executive chef and co-founder of Vestal

Friday, March 13: Fire on the Lake (6:30 – 8:30 p.m.)

Where: Bord du Lac Park

A quintessential Louisiana celebration of live fire cooking from pitmasters, chefs and grill masters.

Slow-cooked, grilled and smoked meats
Louisiana Seafood
Vegetarian creations
Unlimited tasting bites, wine, beer and spirits tastings with a souvenir glass
Music from Dani Lacour

Participating Beverage Vendors:

Jackson Family Wines, Premier Wine Partner
Deep Eddy Vodka, Grand Tasting Premier Partner
Heaven Hill Brands, Grand Tasting Premier Partner
Q Mixers, Official Mixer
Abita
Ambeli Importers, Wholesalers
Ambhar Tequila
Bayou Rum
Carmel Road
Crying Eagle Brewing Company
Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits
Dripping Springs Distilling
Eltequileno Tequila
Kaybaby’s Smokin’ Fine Foods
Klinker Brick Winery
Maestro’s Mixers
Mystic Vine Importer & Distributor
Rombauer Vineyards
Urban South Brewery
Wildcat Brothers Distilling

From the Louisiana Food & Wine Festival

Saturday, March 14: Louisiana Food & Wine Festival Grand Tasting (2 – 5 p.m.)

(VIP Experience, 1 – 2 p.m.)

Where: Bord du Lac Park

Culinary and beverage tastings, with live Zydeco music from Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie. Tickets are all-inclusive for food and beverage tastings, including a souvenir glass for unlimited beverage tastings from hundreds of wines, beer and spirits exhibitors. The Cooking Demo Stage will showcase Louisiana chefs from regions around the entire state. There will also be an artisan market.

Culinary Participants:

Area 337: A Latino Kitchen
Augustine
Big Easy Foods
Cajun Saucer: Stellar Pizza
Coffee:30
Crying Eagle Brewing Co. – Lakefront
Crying Eagle Brewing Co. – University
Fontenot Beef
Galley’s Seafood, featuring Winch Beef Company
Hebert’s Specialty Meats
Luna Bar & Grill
Paul’s Rib Shack BBQ
Southern Provisions SWLA
South Louisiana Bayou Eats
Us Up North

Beverage Participants:

Jackson Family Wines, Premier Wine Partner
Deep Eddy Vodka, Grand Tasting Premier Partner
Heaven Hill Brands, Grand Tasting Premier Partner
Q Mixers, Official Mixer
Abita
Ambeli Importers, Wholesalers
Ambhar Tequila
Bayou Rum
Crying Eagle Brewing Company
Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits
Dripping Springs Distilling
Eltequileno Tequila
Hampton Water Rosé
Kaybaby’s Smokin’ Fine Foods
Kendall-Jackson
La Crema
Maestro’s Mixers
Ole Smoky Tennessee Distillery
Rodney Strong
Rombauer Vineyards
Shotty’s
Urban South Brewery
Wildcat Brothers Distilling

From the Louisiana Food & Wine Festival

Sunday, March 15: Sunday Jazz Brunch (11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)

All-inclusive priced ticket featuring unlimited beverage tastings with a souvenir glass, live music, a lavish brunch with carving stations, Louisiana Seafood stations, made-to-order omelet stations, a variety of desserts and more. The Sharp 9’s will have live music. A variety of the festival’s official beverage partners will participate with bottomless Bloody Marys, Mimosas, sparkling wines, spirits, wine, beer and more.

Where: Ember Grille & Wine Bar, L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles

Beverage Participants: