TikTok superstar and beloved food critic Keith Lee is famous for changing the lives of small restaurant owners with a single review. Now, he’s taking his community-first mission to a whole new level.
Lee has officially announced that his upcoming inaugural FamiLee Day festival will feature a zero-fee vendor initiative, cutting local food businesses a rare and much-needed break.
Set to take place on Saturday, May 16, at the UNO Lakefront Festival Grounds in New Orleans, FamiLee Day is gearing up to be a massive celebration of food, music, and family. But perhaps the most groundbreaking aspect of the event is its business model.
In a highly unusual move for a festival of this magnitude, Lee is entirely waiving booth fees for all participating food vendors.
Typically, large-scale festivals require food vendors to pay hefty upfront fees just to secure a spot, creating a barrier to entry for independent, family-owned restaurants. By eliminating these costs, Lee is ensuring that smaller, highly deserving local spots can participate without financial strain, allowing them to take home more of the profits they make on festival day.
“FamiLee Day is rooted in creating real opportunities for local businesses,” Lee shared in a recent statement. “By eliminating vendor fees, we’re prioritizing the success of our partners and ensuring they can fully benefit from the exposure, community engagement, and economic impact the festival is designed to generate.”
The highly anticipated festival will feature a curated food village hand-selected by Lee, boasting local culinary favorites like Thistle & Rye, Velvet Grain, Salt + Sage, Iron Kettle, and Copper Root. And because it wouldn’t be a true New Orleans party without incredible entertainment, the event is bringing some serious star power.
Hosted by NAACP Image Award-winning comedian Kevin “KevOnStage” Fredericks, the music lineup includes performances by gospel superstar Kirk Franklin, hip-hop legend Mannie Fresh, Grammy-nominated singer Andra Day, Tobe Nwigwe, and Ha Sizzle.
Beyond the food and music, FamiLee Day promises to be a true family-friendly blowout complete with carnival rides, brand activations, and a competitive family obstacle course where attendees can compete for charity prizes.
