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NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – The inaugural Beignet Fest is coming to Lafayette Square in October.

The festival was started by the Tres Doux Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping children with developmental delays and disabilities, as a way to raise awareness and money for autism programs in New Orleans.

According to the foundation, Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 68 children (and 1 in 42 boys) is diagnosed with autism.

Admission to the festival, set for Oct. 8 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in Lafayette Square, is free.

Local and regional restaurants serving up savory and sweet beignets include Lafayette-based Bread & Circus, Café Du Monde, Ye Olde College Inn, The Ruby Slipper, Café Beignet, New Orleans Coffee & Beignet and more.

Awards will be given at the festival for best sweet, best savory, most original and crowd-favorite beignets.

The festival will also feature performances by Big Sam’s Funky Nation, John Papa Gros Band, Los Po-Boy-Citos, The Confetti Park Players Chorus and Alexandra Scott.