Allons a Lafayette with Festive Living

By Lisa G at Festive Living

Festivals Acadiens is unlike most of the other music festivals I go to, in that 100% of the music, food, and other features are local to the area. About two dozen bands were on the schedule and I think all are based in southwest Louisiana - mostly Cajun with a few Creole / Zydeco performers. And that is just a sampling of the local talent available! Some of the bands, like Beausoleil, are often on the road so they seem to relish the chance to play in front of a hometown crowd, while others like Goldman Thibodeaux, are more regional.

The food is all from local restaurants and civic organizations, with offerings such as boudin, cracklins, pork chop
sandwiches, fried softshell crab, shrimp or crawfish pasta, jambalaya, gumbo and more.

It is a very relaxed atmosphere; the festival is free, held in Girard Park, at University of Lousiana Lafayette, so there is no gate and access is from all sides. Parking didn't seem to be a problem-we rolled in around 2:30 and got a spot a few blocks away. At that time JeffreyBroussard and the Creole Cowboys were rocking the main stage. We set up chairs off to the side, in the shade, and caught the last 15 minutes or so, then went in search of something to eat.

Good thing, since I needed the energy to keep up with Feufollet, one of the fun-loving younger bands who was up next on the main stage.. Here's a video of them doing Flammes d'Enfer - check out the bass player, he's having such a great time!

[Visit Festive Living for Lisa's complete report on Festivals Acadiens.]