SOULDARD – A spicy event is set to heat up Mardi Gras in Soulard this weekend, as the Cajun Cookoff is expecting hundreds at the historic south St. Louis neighborhood.
While the Mardi Gras season has been underway for weeks now, this event is expected to kick things into a higher, more flavorful gear.
Soon, tens of thousands of partygoers will pack the streets in the Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis to celebrate Mardi Gras 2025.
While the grand parade isn’t for another two weeks, there’s plenty to celebrate between now and then, starting off with an event that is promised to satisfy your taste buds.
The “Cajun Cookoff” has become a signature St. Louis Mardi Gras event and is expected to draw around 500 foodies to Soulard yet again this year.
The cookoff will be held inside the heated Bud Light Party Center tent Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Organizers said it will feature live music, an open bar, and an endless selection of mouth-watering Cajun food.
The tent is located in Soulard Market Park at the corner of South Ninth St. and Lafayette Ave.
During the cook-off, amateur chefs will compete in front of a panel of judges with the goal of cooking up the best authentic Cajun food around.
The event will also feature two professional Cajun chefs, including Casey Jovick, the owner of Jovick Brothers Burgers and Jovick Brothers Café. Jovick has been taking part in the event for several years and said he looks forward to it all year.
“I love cooking for large groups of people, making people happy, and throwing a big party,” Jovick said. “That’s what I’m all about.”
In addition to the world-class food, Jovick said the event also serves as an opportunity for people to get out of the house and beat the cold.
“Come on down, eat some hot delicious food, and enjoy yourselves,” he said.
The Soulard Mardi Gras celebration is the second largest in the country after New Orleans, and it generates around $20 million every year for the local economy–which issomething organizers like Bess McCoy said they take pride in.
“We put St. Louis on the map for a time of the year where most people aren’t going out. They’re not spending a lot of money, so it’s a big deal,” McCoy said. “I’m really proud to be a part of it.”
As of Friday evening, organizers said they only had around 100 tickets left for the cookoff and expect the event to be sold out.
General admission is $70, and tickets can be found here.