Thousands of people headed to the French Quarter Friday afternoon to enjoy the 25th Annual French Quarter Festival, where dozens of New Orleans Chefs cooked up their specialties as locals and tourists alike danced to the beat of the some of the city’s finest musicians.

It’s the biggest block party in the world, and it has something for everyone.

“I’ll eat out here ‘til I bust,” Wilfred Wright said.

And it's all within steps of each other in the French Quarter.

It’s a festival that recognizes the uniqueness of New Orleans with crowds that multiply each year. Locals call it the best event of the year because of the New Orleans flavor you find and its ideal location.

“We've got breeze from river, cruise, bourbon, royal – it’s wonderful, free, excellent,” Robyn Cofey said.

Visitors were in full force, doing exactly what local like to see – contributing to the New Orleans economy.

“We're buying food and probably some trinkets before we leave,” Bob Albright said.

The Albrights are New Orleanians far removed, now living in South Carolina. But they said there's no place like home, and their first visit to the French Quarter Festival is everything they thought it would be.

"It is and more,” Lucretia Albright said. “It's a great festival. Think (I’m) enjoying it more than Mardi Gras.”

Jeremy Church and his bride to be are celebrating with pretty specific plans for this festival weekend. They’re having their bachelor and bachelorette parties in New Orleans this weekend.

Wright had some words of wisdom for anyone who needs a little help breathing in all the sights, sounds and foods of the festival.

“Try as many foods as you can, enjoy the shows, especially the locals,” Wright said. “Just enjoy the shows and eat as much as you can. It's great. It's great.”