Edible Schoolyard New Orleans Hosts Sweet Potato Fest 2023

Each Fall the Arthur Ashe Charter School community comes out to celebrate our favorite fall crop, the sweet potato, with a festival dedicated to this glorious tuber.

On Saturday, October 21, 2023 hundreds of Ashe family members came out to celebrate their children, their school, and the sweet potatoes grown in the school garden.

Sweet Potato Fest began with a parade around the school’s neighborhood featuring the school marching unit. The parade ended at the school’s sweet potato field where a ribbon-cutting ceremony happened to officially open the Fest. All ages and abilities were  encouraged to help harvest our sweet potatoes. After the harvest there were other activities, including a professional sweet potato cook-off, a family sweet potato cook-off, music performances, community partners, bike-powered smoothies, facepaint, and arts and crafts. The day culminated with awards to honor the cook-off competitions winners.

Students pose as sweet potatoes!

The Arthur Ashe Flag Team walking the Sweet Potato Fest parade donning fall-themed flags!

Attendants receive their Sweet Potato Fest swag!

The crowned King and Queen of Sweet Potato Fest!

Bike-powered smoothies got attendants moving and mixing!

Live music and cultural dance performances!