Amy's Favorite Resteaurant for Closing Deals:

Ralph's on the Park

Gratitude for Parents

Amy expressed her gratitude for her parents, acknowledging the solid foundation they provided. She credited them for giving her both the freedom to grow as a young adult and the necessary structure to succeed. She values the values they instilled in her and seeks to emulate them in her own parenting.

The Birth of Beignet Fest: A Unique Opportunity

Amy and her husband recognized a unique opportunity in the market and seized it by creating the Beignet Fest. The festival serves multiple purposes:

• Supporting Children with Autism: The couple, parents of a child with autism, saw gaps in services for autistic children in New Orleans and aimed to fill them.

• Celebrating the Iconic Beignet: The idea of a festival dedicated to the beloved beignet, a New Orleans icon, emerged. They saw an opportunity to showcase various beignet creations.

Challenges Faced in Festival Entrepreneurship

Starting a festival comes with its own set of challenges:

• Fundraising: Securing startup capital is essential. The Collins couple sought corporate sponsors to underwrite the festival's costs.

• Weather Risks: Hosting an outdoor event in hurricane-prone South Louisiana poses a significant weather-related challenge. Having contingency plans and backup dates is crucial.

• Identifying a Unique Selling Point: Finding a festival's unique selling point is essential. For Beignet Fest, it was celebrating the diverse world of beignets and capitalizing on their popularity.

Passion and Mission Drive Success

Amy emphasized the importance of passion and a strong mission in overcoming entrepreneurial challenges. Their mission to support children with autism fuels their determination even in the face of setbacks like a pandemic-related hiatus.

Details of Beignet Fest

Beignet Fest is a one-day event at New Orleans City Park featuring:

• 50 Types of Beignets: Offered by 23 vendors, including creative variations like seafood-stuffed beignets and beignet fries.

• Live Entertainment: The festival boasts live, local bands, including renowned acts like Flow Tribe and The Imagination Movers.

• Kid-Friendly: With one of the largest kids' villages, Beignet Fest ensures inclusivity and sensory-friendliness for all children.

• Artisan Market and Beer Garden: The festival offers an artisan market and a beer garden, ensuring a complete festival experience.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online at beignetfest.com or at the gate, with prices rising on the day of the event. Children under 12 can enter for free.

Amy's dedication to her cause, combined with her entrepreneurial spirit, has transformed Beignet Fest into one of New Orleans’ premier fall festivals, impacting the lives of children with autism and delighting beignet enthusiasts from all over.