Cajun & Creole Food
If the taste of New Orleans cuisine is what you’re looking for, you’ll find many options at the event. We’re still finalizing the food vendors for this year, but previous fests have included:
- a variety of gumbo and jambalaya
- red beans and rice
- shrimp Creole
- crawfish etouffee
- bourbon chicken
- barbecue pork, beef, and chicken
If you don’t like the Cajun flavors, traditional festival foods will also be available. Cold refreshments available at the event’s beer tents include: Miller Lite, MGD, Miller Chill, Coors Light, and Mike’s Hard Lemonade.
Bring On Da Crawfish!
The annual Rock 104.9 Crawfish Eating Contest, hosted by Dave and Darren, will be held at 9:30 p.m. on the Plaza Stage. “Pinch the tail, Suck the head!”
French Quarter Marketplace
The merchants are inspired by the French Quarter Marketplace in New Orleans, a place where you can find almost anything. Official Gumbo Ya Ya t-shirts will be sold for $12. Local artists will sell hand-crafted jewelry, paintings, and photography. Merchants will sell clothing, accessories, and jewelry. Novelties will include glow-in-the-dark items, face painting, and flamboyant street performers.
Gumbo Ya Ya Getaway
Enter to win roundtrip airfare for two to New Orleans (or any AirTran Airways destination) provided by the Quad City International Airport.
Mardi Gras Beads
One-half ton of Mardi Gras beads will be thrown to the crowd throughout the weekend. Do you know what the different colors of the beads represent? The most dominant color at Mardi Gras is purple, and it represents justice. Green stands for faith, and gold represents power. These three colors are intertwined in almost all Mardi Gras decorations.
