The Creole Food Festival is set to arrive in Brooklyn from September 26 to 28, under the arches of Emily Roebling Plaza at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. Now in its seventh year, the event—co-founded in 2018 in New York by Haitian-American entrepreneur Fabrice Armand and his partner Elkhair Balla—aims to mark a new chapter.
“We’re excited to celebrate seven years of showcasing the global reach and richness of Creole food and culture,” said Fabrice Armand. “This move allows us to expand our footprint, welcome more visitors, and introduce new elements that elevate the festival experience.”
For Armand, the project is also personal. “Haiti is the perfect reflection of Creole identity. Our cuisine blends African, French, Spanish, and Middle Eastern influences. In that sense, Creole culture stands for diversity and resilience,” he explained.
This year’s program includes a Creole brunch, tastings, and a new barbecue event called “Creole Carnival” to kick things off. Grammy-winning singer Stacy Barthe, a Brooklyn native, will headline and present her new album.
“We’re the only food festival that connects Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, South America, and the American South,” Armand added. “Doing it through food and culture was the best way to begin. It’s about uniting the Afro-diaspora, highlighting chefs and musicians, and showing that Creole is global.”
Dishes from Haitian, Cuban, Brazilian, Ghanaian, Afro-French, and Southern U.S. Creole traditions will be featured. Among the guests: Haitian chef Stephan Berrouet Durand of Taste of Haiti, and James Beard finalist Todd Richards, known for his contemporary takes on soul and Southern cuisine. Armand and his team select chefs through community recommendations, tastings, and open calls. Since its launch, the festival has helped raise the visibility of Black and mixed-heritage chefs in an industry where recognition often remains limited.
Despite its growth, the event has faced financial challenges. “Even so, we’ve managed to stage something of this scale with barely $10,000 to $15,000 in sponsorships,” Armand noted. “That speaks to our determination and the support of our community.”
Alongside him, New York communications specialist Danielle DeSouza of D2 Communications highlighted a major update for the seventh edition: “For the first time, general admission will be free, opening the experience to a wider audience. Visitors will have free access to the outdoor plaza, while tasting tickets will be available in advance or on-site for dishes prepared by chefs from across the Creole world.”
She emphasized that since 2018, the Creole Food Festival has established itself as “the only U.S. food event dedicated exclusively to Creole cuisine, celebrating the cultural and culinary ties that unite Black and mixed-heritage communities across continents.”
Live cooking demos, concerts, panel discussions, and food competitions are also on the schedule. Registration is already open for restaurants and brands looking to participate or partner.
In collaboration with Time Out Market New York, the 2025 edition plans to offer an expanded culinary and cultural experience, highlighting the many dimensions of Creole identity beyond Haiti and Louisiana.
Meanwhile, Armand is preparing to launch a global platform called Creole Food Culture, which will continue this mission year-round through media, cultural storytelling, and various programs. “The festival is at the core, but we realized a bigger platform was needed to meet the diverse needs of our communities,” he said.