The billowing trees, the difficult parking spots and pesky meters, the smell of fried goods wafting through the air, people clad in backpacks, an inviting atmosphere — all of these elements can only be found in the North Gate area of Baton Rouge.
The North Gate Merchants Association welcomes all to celebrate their distinct neighborhood on Friday for the eighth annual North Gate Festival. The festival boasts live music, art, food and, of course, beer.
Clarke Cadzow, owner of Highland Coffees, said his shop has been participating since the inception of the fête. Cadzow said the fest includes the musical styles of Pacifico, England in 1819 and headliner Righteous Buddha.
Cadzow also said Baton Rouge Music Studios, a local organization that helps children foster musical talent, will be the first to perform, starting around 5 p.m.
Cadzow also said this year will feature more art booths than ever before, featuring work from various local artists. He said there will also be a booth selling T-shirts and other commemorative items.
Along with art and apparel, Cadzow said that some booths will be vending out local favorite dishes, such as Louie’s jambalaya and Reginelli’s pie slices. Food trucks will also be out on the scene, although Cadzow wasn’t certain which ones will be serving.
Mario Lozanov, manager of Bacio di Roma, said the gelato shop has recently expanded offerings to include food dishes, realizing a gelato shop cannot thrive in the winter by just offering frozen treats. Lozanov said his business will be dishing out crêpes of both the savory and sweet variety for customers to test out.
Lozanov said he’s looking forward to showing crowds what North Gate has to offer.
“My view is that it helps students and out-of-towners discover what’s on the other side of the gate,” Lozanov said.
Cadzow said the festival is about celebrating the heritage of Chimes Street and giving back to the community that supports these businesses year-round.
“It’s about showing appreciation and giving thanks to customers and people who love our neighborhood,” Cadzow said. “We also want to draw in new people or people who haven’t visited in a while.”
He also discussed the close historic tie Chimes Street shares with the University’s campus. Cadzow said the North Gate area, also known as Tiger Town, has been creating fond memories for generations since its founding in the 1920s.
Cadzow went on to say the night isn’t about making the most money or bringing in the most customers, but rather about leaving a good impression on all those who come and ensuring everyone has a great time.
North Gate Festival kicks off at 4 p.m. and will continue until around 11 p.m. The event is open to the public.
