Taste of Orleans returns to California’s Great America

Like Cajun food and entertainment? Then come on out to the Santa Clara theme park for Taste of Orleans, which runs Saturdays and Sundays in July.

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It’s Big Easy time, Bay Area.

So make your way down to California’s Great America for the fourth annual Taste of Orleans event, which runs Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of July at the Santa Clara theme park.

It’s the place to be for fans of Cajun cuisine and entertainment.

“For the past three years, our guests have enjoyed celebrating Orleans-style food and fun, which is why we’re so excited to bring this event back again in 2019,” said California’s Great America vice president and general manager Manny Gonzalez. “Whether you come for the bold Orleans flavors or the big California thrills on our groundbreaking single-rail coaster, RailBlazer, California’s Great America is the place to be for thrill seekers and food-festival fans alike.”

The special menu consists of such yummy Bayou favorites as chicken and sausage gumbo over rice, crawfish fritters with creole dipping sauce, fried oyster po’ boys and crawfish boil.

And don’t forget the sweets, which include praline bread pudding, beignets creole and something called a “shrimp and crab cheesecake.” (We’ll probably stick with the bread pudding and beignets, actually.)

Tasting cards are $30, although there is a discount for season pass holders.

There are also drink tasting cards, sold for $35 each, which allow guests 21 and over to sample such New Orleans brews as Abita Beer’s Big Easy IPA, Turbo Dog brown ale and Purple Haze wheat beer, among others. Overall, there will be 20 beers and 10 wines featured.

There will also be music performers, various other entertainers, children’s activities and a nightly fireworks show.

For more information, visit www.cagreatamerica.com.