Gretna Fest opens its three-day weekend of fun

GRETNA, La. (WGNO) – Every year, Gretna Fest draws large crowds to the riverfront for an entire weekend.

Festival goers looking forward to a great weekend headed to Gretna Fest to enjoy a top-notch music program and good food.

“Gretna in particular comes into her own here. Gretna is an amazing community in the West Bank, it's like a hidden gem. Today is a good time to learn more about Gretna,” said Niko Tesvich, salesperson for the Croatian American Society.

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Gretna resident and vendor Michael Dixon says this is the best time of year. He's seen an increase in sales since the pandemic and is excited to hear many of the local acts on stage.

“It's great. The last few years have been booming since everything reopened. There are good bands here too. Tonight there’s The Revivalist, Little Freddie King Jr. They have a lot of local stuff this year that I love,” said Dixon.

Another vendor believes that the delicious food from so many cultures embodies the culture that Gretna has to offer and is a big draw for the festival alongside the music.

“Charbroil oysters are the single best dish there is. That's what's amazing about it and it's unique to New Orleans. It's not just about us, but also about so many other unique items that people can get here. Crab cakes or plain old burgers,” Tesvich said.

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David Espadron, owner of Element, a beverage company founded in New Orleans, says participating in the festival has opened the business to new customers. He says with just one taste, people are hooked.

“Oh my God, if you all try this drink you will all be amazed. It's a nice thing that we're taking part in the Gretna Fest for the third time. Every year when we come out we do well. We have a lot of support; People come and support us all the time,” Espadron said.

The celebrations continue throughout the weekend with various performances on stage.

You can buy tickets online. Single day tickets are $40, weekend tickets are $90 and tickets for children ages 5 to 12 are $5.

Further information about transport can be found here.

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