Festivals of fun: Acadiana comes together at events celebrating local life
Welcome to the best time of the year. If you said football season, you’re only partially correct.
It’s festival time. In South Louisiana, the cooling temperatures of football season also present chances to enjoy the outdoors without crumbling under 99-degree heat, humidity, mosquitoes and other pests.
It’s the perfect time to celebrate local harvests, wildlife and culture.
Early fall also means the height of hurricane season. That’s even more reason to celebrate because a storm could crush our little slice of paradise next week.
Here are a few festivals that will help you party like there’s no tomorrow. Laissez les bon temps rouler.
Gueydan Duck Festival
This 31-year-old festival officially kicked off Thursday. But there’s still plenty to enjoy, from skeet shooting, duck calling and outdoor cooking to great food and music. Crowd pleasers Travis Matte and the Kingpins and Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns perform tonight. Don Fontenot and Les Amis de la Louisiane and the GTO Party Band entertain on Sunday, when there’s free admission for everyone.
Sure, there’s a parade, a fair, food and other typical festivities. However, it’s the dog trials at 8 a.m. today, skeet shooting competition at 4 p.m. and a duck calling contest at 10 a.m. Sunday that paint a vivid portrait to explain why Louisiana is known as the “Sportsman’s Paradise.”
Information: www.duck festival.org
Zydeco Music Festival
The grand daddy of all zydeco festivals, the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival, celebrates its 26th year Aug. 30 in Plaisance, just north of Opelousas. Besides foot-stomping music, the Zydeco Festival is known for its Creole cooking, such as pork chop sandwiches (with bone included) and huge fried turkey wings.
The all-day event, which begins at 10:30 a.m. and doesn’t shut down until 1 a.m. Aug. 31, costs $10 to get in and will feature the hottest names in zydeco for 13 hours of live music.
This year’s line-up includes (in order): JJ and the Zydeco Dog Pound, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys, Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, Grammy winner Terrance Simien and Zydeco Experience, Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws, Chris Ardoin and NuStep, Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers.
Info: 942-2392, www.zydeco.org
Lafayette Reggae Festival
If the sounds of Jamaica put more sway in your step, drive a few miles to Carencro on Aug. 30-31 for the 19th annual Lafayette Reggae and Cultural Festival. Besides featuring some of the top names in reggae, zydeco and R&B, the festival features an island marketplace in addition to arts and crafts and food booths.
This year’s entertainers include The Itals, Michael Black, Eek-A-Mouse, Higher Heights, Rasta Reggae, True Spirit, Mandy B, Elements, Russell Cormier, J. Paul Jr., Assumites, Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers, Demolation and Banky.
Info: 886-0572, lafayettereggaefestival.com
La. Shrimp and Petroleum Festival
After 73 years, this Morgan City event, set for Aug. 29 through Sept. 1, stands as Louisiana’s oldest chartered harvest festival. Shrimp, prepared every way imaginable, are the highlight.
Four days of music includes Krossfyre, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., Get Back! Cast of Beatlemania and Warren Storm with Willie T. and Cypress.
Info: www.shrimp-petrofest.org
Creole Zydeco Festival
The Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver Court 54 sponsor this annual event from noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Adam Carlson Park pavilion in St. Martinville. Zydeco Ray, Keith Frank and Leon Chavis perform.
Info: 394-6546, myspace.com/creolezydecofestival
Lydia Food Fest
The Lydia Cajun Food Fest, which will be Sept. 12-13 at the Lydia Park in the rural Iberia Parish community of Lydia, is just the ticket for families looking for a weekend outing without having to take a full-blown vacation.
A fais-do-do, Cajun food cook-off, live music, arts and crafts and pony rides are the main attractions. Go hungry. Leave happy.
Info: 365-5577
Rayne Frog Festival
Frog legs and every other edible part of these jumping amphibians are on the menu at the annual Rayne Frog Festival, which takes place Sept. 3-7 in, you guessed it, Rayne. Easy to find right off I-10 in Acadia Parish, this festival celebrate all things frog with a frog racing and jumping contests. But it’s also a typical fair and festival with all the rides, music, and food (plenty for the non-frog eaters out there) you might expect.
Gate admission is ranges from $1 for children 12 and younger all weekend to $3 until 3 p.m. Saturday to $5 Friday and Sunday and $7 after 3 p.m. Saturday. Carnival ride bracelets will be on sale for $15.
Music performances include Wayne Toups and ZydeCajun, Glenn Jagneaux and Cajun Friends, Percy Sledge and Jamie Bergeron.
Information: www.raynefrogfestival.org
Sugar Cane Festival
The heart and soul of south Louisiana agriculture is on display in all of its glory at the annual Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival and Fair Sept. 24-28 in New Iberia. The can’t-miss event of this festival is the annual boat parade on Bayou Teche and fireworks display over Bouligny Plaza.
There’s also the blessing of the crop, a real Fais-do-do, parades, art show, music, food and more.
Info: 369-9323
La. Cattle Festival
If dancing up a sweat is your idea of fun, the Louisiana Cattle Festival and Fair in Abbeville is the place to be this year Oct. 10-12. One of the highlights is the parade that rolls in Downtown Abbeville at 1 p.m. Saturday. With more than 200 floats, marching bands, cars and trucks, this parade is reminiscent of a fall Mardi Gras. Plus, since this one is about cattle, there are livestock shows galore.
And, of course, the music is sure to be hot. Among the performers playing this year are: Nikl Beer, Glenn Jagneaux, Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns, Robbeaux and Hunter Hayes, Geno Delafose, The Cypress Band featuring Warren Storm, Willie Tee and special guests Tommy McLain, Don Rich, Jaryd Lane, Travis Matte and the Zydeco Kingpins
Information: www.louisianacattlefestival.org
Germanfest
Learn why Acadia Parish is filled with Zaunbrechers, Schexnayders and other German names at Germanfest Oct. 4-5 in the village of Roberts Cove. German food, entertainment, heritage museum, authentic gifts, are just a few of this festival’s attractions.
Chicken dancers can shake a tailfeather will authentic German music from the Alpenfest Band and other entertainers. Artifacts and antiques from the region’s rice farming tradition are also on display.
Information: www.robertscovegermanfest.com
Festivals Acadiens et Creoles
With its new, more inclusive name, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles showcase all things that we love about being in Acadiana with its collection of festivals Oct. 10-12.
This one’s a can’t-miss for the dancing and food, both of which are non-stop. Dancers two-step in the mud when it rains or shroud their faces with bandanas during the dusty, dry spells. Crafts are plentiful, as well as alligator on a stick and other delicacies at the Bayou Food Festival.
The festivals take place at various locations over the three-day span. Special this year is a kick-off on Friday night tied to Downtown Alive!
Info: www.festivalsacadiens.com
La. Cotton Festival
Ville Platte is home to the Louisiana Cotton Festival, which is Oct. 6-12 this year. The Cotton Festival features a unique treat you won’t find anywhere else – the rare medieval event of jousting on horseback, better known as Le Tournoi, French for tournament. This tournament, which dates back to the 1800s, is serious business as it’s even broadcast on local radio.
Knights wear traditional jousting armor and use lances to spear rings as they race on horseback on a quarter-mile track. The rings symbolize the enemies of cotton, which are flood, drought, boll weevil, bollworm, silk, rayon and nylon.
Info: www.louisianatournoi.com
Pepper Festival
For those who like their food hot, hot, hot, there’s the annual St. Martinville Kiwanis Club Pepper Festival on Oct. 19 in downtown St. Martinville.
Spicy food, searing bands, hot arts and crafts and much more make this annual fête held on the third Sunday in October a must see.
Info: www.stmartinkiwanis.org
La. Yambilee
The Yambilee has a long tradition in Opelousas and celebrates all things we love about the humble sweet potato, long a staple of St. Landry Parish agriculture. This year’s festival is Oct. 23-26.
With rides, music, food and, of course, Yam royalty, this one has something fun for all ages. R&B legend Lloyd Price reigns as this year’s Yam King.
Information: www.yambilee.com
Blackpot Festival
Get the tents and pots ready for the South Louisiana Blackpot Festival and Cookoff, which kicked off two years ago at Acadiana Village. The festival, scheduled for Oct. 24-25, is one of the few that allows camping and cookouts around an open fire.
Tent camping and after hours jams are encouraged. The live music and jam sessions rock late into the night.
Among the bands playing this year are the Pine Leaf Boys; D.L. Menard, Terry Huval and Friends; Feufollet; Cedric Watson; Racines; and the Red Stick Ramblers
Information: www.blackpotfestival.com
Giant Omelette Celebration
Avoid the doctor for a few months while you down bowls of Cheerios to help reduce your cholesterol level after eating a succulent mouthful of the best, biggest omelet you’ve ever tasted.
Abbeville’s Giant Omelette Celebration set for Nov. 1-2, features a 5,000-egg omelet, as well as a tour of homes, antique implement show, antique tractor “egg cracking” and other fun events in Magdalen Square in the shadow of the historic St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church.
Information: www.giantomelette.org
Cracklin Festival
The Louisiana Lions Crippled Children’s Camp receives the proceeds from this fried pig skin celebration Nov. 13-16 in the St. Landry Parish town of Port Barre. Live music, art and drinks almost take a back seat to the Cracklin Cook-Off, where professionals and amateurs display their cracklin cooking abilities.
Info: portbarrecracklinfestival.com
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August 23rd, 2008 by Ragin Cajun /
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