Garden Fest, an event that celebrates the rich food, culture and music gorwn in Louisiana, will be hosted by the LSU AgCenter on Saturday at The Burden Center from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Visitors of all ages can participate in a wide array of events that promote Louisiana agriculture.
Resident Director of The Burden Center Jeff Kuehny said there are two key factors that make Garden Fest unique from other local festivals.
“It is really the only event that I know of that you can sample all kinds of Louisiana food products,” said Kuehny, “For example, we’re going to have salad dressings, cakes, drink mixes; all food products that are made locally. The other thing is, we partner with Louisiana Culinary Institute, and they prepare six different dishes, that visitors can sample. It promotes healthy eating and cooking as well.”
One of the highlights of the festival will be the hayrides to the Botanic Gardens research area. Upon reaching the Botanic Gardens, visitors will have an opportunity to taste fresh fruit and vegetable crops as well as learn more about AgCenter research, according to The Burden Center website.
The event will also host many different contests in which guests can participate.
Baton Rouge Music Studios and Visit Baton Rouge will join together to host a singing competition called “Red Stick Idol” from 10:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m. Twenty contestants from around the Baton Rouge area will take the stage and compete for prizes including a professional recording session and an opportunity to perform at one of Baton Rouge Music Studios’ talent showcases.
Visitors who grow their own gardens may bring their best tomatoes to the festival and compete in the Outstanding Tomato Contest.
Also, The Garden Fest Cocktail Contest will feature “concoctions made from Louisiana spirits” from 11:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m. Of-age visitors will be able to sample the featured drinks.
In addition to the contests and hayrides, Garden Fest will also feature breakfast prepared by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and the Forestry and Louisiana Egg Commission, tours through The Burden Center’s various gardens, and food sampling from various food companies located in LSU AgCenter’s Food Incubator. Also, visitors will easily be able to beat the heat with either The Dairy Store’s delicious ice cream or refreshing Bloody Mary samples from Mason’s Grill.
Kuehny added that Garden Fest is an important event for the community because it’s “coming full circle from the farm to the retailers to the consumer and shows a sustainable system within our state.”
