Dig Into Authentic New Orleans Cuisine During Mardi Gras-Themed 2017 South Florida Fair

The South Florida fair is planning to bring its own version of Mardi Gras to life — complete with elaborate floats a nd daily parades, colorful beads, and Louisiana-style entertainment and food — as it carries out a New Orleans theme for the 2017 fair slated to take place January 12 to 29.

Next year, everything will be New Orleans-inspired. That includes performances by Dr. John, a six-time Grammy-winning musician and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee known for his embodiment of the Big Easy. Themed “New Orleans on Ice” ice skating shows will take place daily. Ghost tours conducted in Yesteryear Village every night will include two onsite houses where guests will hear stories about New Orleans swamp stories. Anticipate replicas of the French Quarter and historic Jackson Square, where local artists create artwork and display it on the square’s iron fence.

"And — for the first time ever — the fair's food choices will follow the overall theme," says Doreen Poreba, the fair's publicist. "New Orleans-style food, of course."

In addition to the traditional fried fair food, 2017 South Florida Fair event-goers can expect to find a number of specialty vendors serving everything from fried catfish and jambalaya to boiled crawfish and gumbo.

You will also get a chance to meet local chef and New Orleans native Brian Curt Landry, who will be onsite preparing some of his favorite foods for hungry event-goers during the 2017 South Florida Fair. Find him entertaining audiences throughout the week with a series of interactive cooking shows focusing on Cajun and bayou cuisine.

This week, the fair is offering a limited “Power of Gold” promotion available Friday, November 4, to Sunday, November 6. Purchase tickets online this weekend and you'll receive a free "Gold Access Pass," a value of up to $20. The free pass will allow guests to move to the front of any line at the rides on the day of their visit to the fair. Ride tickets are sold separately.

Adult admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Children ages 12 and under are $5 in advance and $8 at the gate (children 5 and under enter for free). Those 60 years of age and older pay $7 in advance and $9 at the gate.

Tickets will be available at Palm Beach County Publix supermarkets beginning November 12 and online at southfloridafair.com. Advance discount ticket sales will continue through January 12 at midnight. Bud’s Chicken & Seafood and Palm Beach County BB&T Bank branches will also sell advance discount tickets beginning December 2.

South Florida Fair. 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach; 561-793-0333; southfloridafair.com.