Miss Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival Queen Elizabeth Albert gave City Council members information about the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival, which is returning on Sept. 15-16, back by popular demand after a two-year break due to the novel coronavirus.
Records show that the concept of the meat pie took shape in the mid-1700’s in Louisiana by Native Americans and later enhanced by the Spanish. Fifty-five years ago, James Lasyone’s -opened his meat pie kitchen which is still in operation today in Historic Downtown Natchitoches.
The recipe of the meat pie has changed slightly from its inception and has been handed down from generation to generation; however, the basic ingredients and the process for creating a meat pie remains the same. With an abundance of excitement in 2002, the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival was formed to celebrate the noted culinary staple in Natchitoches. In 2003, the Natchitoches meat pie was named Louisiana’s official meat pie, and Natchitoches was one of the last cities to not have an identified food festival until 2002.
The annual Festival attracts visitors from throughout the state and over a dozen of other states as well each year. The festival has always been a family-oriented, non-admission required event over a two-day period in Downtown Natchitoches, helping to enhance the area’s economy with individual activities that can be enjoyed at a small fee. The organizing committee for the Festival is a complete volunteer committee.
Now, therefore, I, Ronnie Williams, Jr., Mayor, and the Natchitoches City Council, do hereby proclaim September 15 and 16, 2023 as: Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival Day’s in the City of Natchitoches, and invite all residents to participate and enjoy the two-day Festival, that will include various bands, fireworks, vendors, children’s performances and play area, and a “how to” workshop will encompass this year’s celebration.
