The winter holidays are near, and that means that it’s almost time for the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival in the South Carrollton neighborhood. Now in its seventh year, the festival that celebrates New Orleans’ most famous sandwich is one of the most packed community gatherings of the year. The 2013 Po-Boy Festival will be held Sunday, November 24 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and festival organizers are looking for volunteers to help out with the fun.

Po-Boy Fest volunteers only need to donate three hours of service time on-site at the free festival in order to receive a free 2013 Po-Boy Fest T-shirt and invitation to a special staff and volunteers thank-you party.

But more than that, volunteering at an intimate cultural festival in New Orleans provides a unique opportunity to get to know the people and places that make the Crescent City the magical place that it is. As always, putting on a free festival involves contributions from countless community members. Po-Boy Fest is offering several volunteer positions this year in the following service areas:

 

• set-up (day before and early morning on day of fest)
• hosting / greeting
• map distribution
• helping guests take surveys
• VIP/Hospitality area staff
• Kid’s World staff
• bus tables
• hang signs
• clean-up / break-down

There are volunteer positions available for just about everyone of any age or skill set. Plus, there’s all the free live music to enjoy on two stages (one at the corner of Oak Street and Eagle Street, and the other in front of the Maple Leaf Bar) all day long. Oh — and po-boys and fixins’ from over 30 local food vendors. In case you’re not sure that you know enough about the po-boy, the Po-Boy Fest website has a detailed history of the poor man’s sandwich turned delicacy here.

The 2013 Po-Boy Festival preliminary music line-up is posted now on the festival website, with the complete line-up to be announced soon. For more information, please visit www.poboyfest.com or click here to sign-up to volunteer now.