More than 40,000 people from places near and far are expected to descend on New Iberia for the three-day event.
The Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce's annual World Championship Gumbo cookoff starts tonight in downtown New Iberia's Bouligny Plaza, where 96 teams will go head-to-head over the weekend in hopes of getting bragging rights as one of the world's best.
According to a Chamber press release:
The teams must prepare their rouxs on site without the benefit of electricity. To ensure that everyone abides by the "Gumbo Code of Ethics," the Gumbo Police inspect each team's ingredients before they begin cooking and patrol the plaza throughout the day.
Click here for more information on this year's cookoff festivities, which in addition to a wide selection of gumbos, will feature appearances by several members of the History Channel's "Swamp People," as well as performances by Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band and Wayne Toups.