The first-ever Beignet Fest will take over Lafayette Square in New Orleans on Saturday, October 8.

The event will feature beignets from a variety of local restaurants, including Ye Olde College Inn, The Ruby Slipper, Cafe Beignet, New Orleans Coffee & Beignet, Lafayette’s Bread & Circus and, of course, Cafe du Monde. A panel of celebrity judges will give out awards for best sweet, best savory and most original beignets. A crowd-favorite beignet will also be selected.

This is New Orleans after all, so attendees can expect to hear plenty of great music as they stuff themselves with fried dough and powdered sugar. Performers on the bill include Big Sam’s Funky Nation, John “Papa” Gros Band, Los Po-Boy-Citos, The Confetti Park Players Chorus and Alexandra Scott.

Beignet Fest will raise awareness and funds for autism programs in New Orleans, with a portion of the proceeds from food and beverage sales benefitting the newly established Tres Doux Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to “celebrate, embrace and enhance the lives of children with developmental delays and disabilities by presenting them as whole beings, and to support organizations that do the same.”

Much like the upcoming Fried Chicken Festival (which is set to take place in Lafayette Square as well), today’s Beignet Fest announcement has us asking a simple question: How is this not already a thing? The beignet is one of the city’s most iconic offerings, satisfaying countless locals and tourists alike with its sugary deliciousness. A celebration dedicated to this quintessentially NEw Orleans treat is long overdue.

“We are thrilled to announce the inaugural Beignet Fest, which will be free and open to the public to celebrate New Orleans’ most iconic dessert: the beignet, featuring both sweet and savory treats,” festival co-founder and event producer Sherwood Collins said in a press release. “We have been overwhelmed with enthusiasm and support as we have told our story and asked for help to start this festival so we can offer more programs to autistic children in our community. We can’t wait for everyone to come out and experience the fest on October 8!”

As noted above, Beignet Fest will be free and open to the public. It will also be a family friendly event, complete with Kid’s Village sponsored by Ochsner Hospital for Children.

“Through our journey with our son, Liam, who is on the autism spectrum, we found out there’s a gap in accessible programming for kids on the spectrum, and we wanted to change that,” said festival co-founder Amy Collins. “So, we are doing what we do best – creating and managing a festival with amazing food and music!”