Get a jump on your holiday shopping (and eating) at…well, just read the poster:

Sat. Dec. 13, 9:30AM to 6PM

The Jazz & Heritage Center (formerly the Tharp-Sontheimer-Laudumiey Funeral Home)

1225 N. Rampart St.

The first annual Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival celebrates the history of Faubourg Tremé as a hotbed of New Orleans musical and culinary culture. Admission is free.

This unique event features outstanding musical performers, including:

9:45 am The Heritage School of Music Allstars

11 am Davis Rogan

12:30 pm The Tremé Brass Band

2 pm Shannon Powell Quartet

3:30 pm Shamarr Allen

5 pm John Boutte, Leroy Jones, Paul Sanchez and Todd Duke

In addition, two famous Creole chefs will demonstrate the secrets to making the perfect gumbo:

11:45 am Chef Alfred Singleton (Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse)

1:15 pm Chef Leah Chase (Dooky Chase Restaurant)

Several outstanding New Orleans Creole restaurants will be on hand selling their own takes on gumbo and other local delicacies. Participating restaurants include: Dooky Chase, Dunbar’s Creole Cooking, Li’l Dizzy’s and Olivier’s Creole Restaurant. Locally made wearable art, jewelry and fine crafts for the home will be featured in the festival’s Arts & Crafts Market. The festival also includes the third annual Jazz & Heritage Holiday Bazaar - a special sale of official Jazz Fest t-shirts, posters and other collectibles.

My secret to making the perfect gumbo? Going to Dooky Chase to get it. But if Carl Arredondo is right — we’ll all be wanting a big bowl of gumbo by this weekend.