Exciting Events at Prize Fest in Shreveport
Last weekend, downtown Shreveport was buzzing with excitement as the Prize Foundation hosted its annual Prize Fest. This four-day festival, running from October 16 to 20, brought the community together to celebrate creativity with competitions spanning food, comedy, music, and film. It was truly a fantastic experience for everyone involved!
Culinary Delights Kick Off Prize Fest
The fun began on Wednesday, October 16, with the Food Prize Come and Get It Culinary Experience. A lineup of six local and celebrity chefs showcased their talents, creating culinary masterpieces that left the audience drooling. Chef Melvin Nelson was among the competitors and had a great time sharing his love for cooking. He shared, “It’s great being able to share a piece of meat with these people and enjoy interacting with everybody.” His hard work paid off when he advanced to the finals in the highly anticipated Golden Fork competition on Saturday, along with fellow chefs Alison Ward and Stu Dyson.
Laughs and Giggles at the Comedy Prize
As the festival continued, the spotlight shifted to the world of comedy. On Thursday, October 17, the Comedy Prize lit up the Remington Garage with nine comedians vying for a $2,500 cash prize. Amidst laughter and cheers, Olagbaju stole the show and was announced as the winner of the 2024 Comedy Prize, exclaiming, “This is dope!” It was a hilarious night that certainly set the tone for the remainder of the festival.
Rocking Out at the Music Prize
The celebration rolled on into the weekend with the Music Prize on Friday and Saturday. Over two nights, 10 talented musicians wowed the crowd with their 20-minute sets. Among the performers on Friday were Sunkissed, Alena Cierra, and Zack Edwards. The following night featured acts like Mia Borders and Big Wy’s Brass Band. Celebrating the lively atmosphere, Gregory Kallenberg, founder of the Prize Foundation, noted, “I can tell you right now that we’ve never seen a Music Prize with this much spirit, love, energy.” The festival reached its musical peak on Saturday evening when Mia Borders was crowned the winner of the Music Prize 2024.
Chef Showdown: Battle for the Golden Fork
Saturday was an unforgettable day as the Prize Foundation hosted the Battle for the Golden Fork. In a thrilling live competition modeled after “Chopped,” chefs Melvin Nelson, Alison Ward, and Stu Dyson went head-to-head in front of an engaged crowd. With a mystery basket containing items like rice crispies and shakshuka, the chefs created stunning dishes that impressed judges Tiana Kennell and Tim Carman. Ultimately, Chef Melvin Nelson was announced as the 2024 Battle for the Golden Fork winner, earning praise for his beautiful presentation and tender dishes.
Celebrating Film and Creativity
The festivities wrapped up on Sunday, October 20, with film screenings across the Shreveport-Bossier area. The Film Prize 2024 winner was announced that evening, along with several other awards. Seven talented filmmakers received the Founders Circle award, granting them a $3,000 reimbursable grant to produce another film. The prize for the best performance went to Moriah L. Hicks, who expressed gratitude for the support she received through the festival. The top film, “Sex Date”, directed by Mike Nicholas, walked away with the coveted $50,000 prize. Amid the cheers, Nicholas humorously acknowledged the festival’s atmosphere, remarking, “This was all a plot to make you say, ‘Sex Date’.”
A Memorable Weekend for All
This year’s Prize Fest was a fantastic celebration of local talent and creativity, bringing together foodies, music lovers, film buffs, and comedy fans. With events that highlighted the spirit and passion of our community, Shreveport truly showcased its vibrancy and artistic flair. If you missed this year’s festivities, don’t worry; we can only expect even bigger and better things at next year’s Prize Fest!
