World Championship Gumbo Cookoff Cancelled

Another day, another event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier today, we found out that the State Fair of Texas has been cancelled this year, and will not take place for the first time since World War II. While the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff hasn't been around for quite as long as the State Fair of Texas, it was still just a few months away from it's 31st consecutive annual event.

The event, which takes place in October every year, is one of the marquee events for New Iberia. It's a global event celebrating something we all know and love: That good ol' fashioned Louisiana gumbo.

In a press-release today, Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce CEO Janet Faulk-Gonzales said the annual event is a large undertaking and they waited as long as possible to make a decision about the event.

The release states that the decision to cancel the event for the first time in 31 years came after a special meeting with the Board of Directions. The board voted against hosting the on-site event this year due to COVID-19, but they also stated they're hoping to find a way to provide a virtual option.

I'm not sure how they plan on taking an on-site food event, and turning it into a successful virtual event, but as a lover of all things gumbo, I can't wait to see what they come up with.

Faulk-Gonzales says, “Our thought is instead of the world coming to Iberia Parish we’re taking gumbo to the world, so we’re kind of excited about that.”

For more info, click HERE.