Beignet Fest is a premier New Orleans food festival that celebrates one of the region’s most iconic dishes, the beignet. The Beignet Fest Foundation and corresponding festival were founded in 2016 by Amy and Sherwood Collins with the purpose of using proceeds to provide grants that support New Orleans-area programs that serve children with developmental delays. Some examples of the programs supported by the foundation include adaptive swimming lessons, inclusive sailing camps, and the development of a sensory activation vehicle – unique space for local events to be more inclusive for those with sensory processing disorders.

The Challenge

The Beignet Fest crew wanted to increase their annual growth and make 2023 one of their best years yet. Their goal was to increase ticket sales, raise funds for the foundation, and increase overall awareness of the festival and its mission.

The Solution

In addition to traditional and digital media promotions supported by Gambel Communications, Beignet Fest worked with Firefly to create a holistic social media strategy to achieve their goals. 

Our team started by developing a roadmap for the festival’s promotion on Facebook and Instagram starting in April and running into October. The roadmap outlined a transition from general education and awareness of the festival’s mission to promoting ticket sales and sharing event information (food menu, live music, artist market, FAQs, etc.). Along the way, we developed targeted ad campaigns to increase audience reach and engagement while also driving traffic to their online ticket platform.