Shreveport Gumbo Glory: Eat, Compete, Help Youth

The Battle of the Gumbo Gladiators returns to Festival Plaza on Saturday, March 8th.  This food festival is an annual fundraiser for Volunteers for Youth Justice. Folks who claim they make the best gumbo are about to get their cooking skills put to the test. This is the perfect thing to sign up your buddy for who swears they make the best gumbo. Is it time to put your money where your mouth is?

Gumbo Gladiators from near and far gather downtown to cook over 50 pots of gumbo and battle for the title of Ultimate Gumbo Gladiator. There are several categories where people can win: Chicken/sausage, seafood, and lagniappe. You can't forget the other prizes for Most Team Spirit and Best Booth Design.

This event is great for families. It won't just have gumbo; there will be other food vendors and an area designed for all the little gumbo gladiators that will have crafts and face painting.

Check Out The Organizations Defending Their Titles in 2025:

Best Booth Design: Black Bayroux

Most Team Spirit: Krewe of Centaur

Best Seafood Gumbo: Boudreaux Bayou Brigade

Best Lagniappe Category: Cooking Cousins

Best Chicken/Sausage Category: Krewe of Centaur

People’s Choice Award: Roux Breakers

Why Is Gumbo Gladiators Important for the Shreveport Community?

This event is wonderful for our community because all proceeds support services for children, youth, and families in crisis. Volunteers for Youth Justice are the unsung heroes who dedicate themselves to making life better for children in our community through multiple organizations. So, bring your appetite and get ready for one of the tastiest competitions in Shreveport, but remember to pace yourself; you might mess around and get stuffed after stopping at a couple of different gumbo booths.