Shrimp and Petroleum Festival Celebrating 75th Anniversary

Louisiana’s oldest chartered harvest festival is scheduled to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee, 75 years of tradition and family fun, this upcoming Labor Day Weekend. Held Labor Day weekend, the festival celebrates the men and women that work tirelessly in these industries.

The Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival will be held September 2 – 6, 2010 in Morgan City, only 90 miles from New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Most festivities are held within the beautiful Downtown Historic District and are free to the general public. Great food, continuous free live music, traditional events and children’s activities will highlight this five-day extravaganza.

Thursday, September 2nd, will be a salute to Morgan City’s Sesquicentennial, the city’s 150th year of incorporation, with a ribbon cutting at Second Street under the US Highway 90 Bridge. Sheauxdown will provide live entertainment from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the music stage in Lawrence Park. Food vendors will be available in the park through out the performance and continue for the duration of the festival. Mitchell Brothers Carnival rides and games will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday evening and will continue through Monday.

Indulge your taste buds and satisfy your appetite at the 22nd annual Cajun Culinary Classic, a showcase of local “home style” cooking featuring delicious Cajun & Creole dishes, as well as a variety of desserts and other cuisines. The Cajun Culinary Classic is open 5 PM to 11 PM Friday, noon to 11 PM Saturday & Sunday, and noon to 9 PM Monday. Local non-profit groups and civic organizations will benefit from the proceeds.

The traditional arts & crafts show & sale will also open on Friday, September 3 at 5 PM under the US Highway 90 Bridge. The event features over 100 artists and crafters from south Louisiana with unique merchandise and artistic masterpieces.

Children’s Day activities will begin with children’s field & game events Saturday, September 4th at 9 AM. Children of all ages can participate in sack races, three legged races and more. Professional storytellers will entertain kids as well as their parents with their wonderful stories after the field and games events. The Children’s Day Mini Street Parade will begin at 11 AM. Decorated bicycles, wagons, strollers and four wheelers are welcome to participate. The Children’s Day King and Queen will officially open the J Ray McDermott/Teche Regional Medical Center Children’s Village with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 PM. The McDermott/Teche Regional Medical Center Children’s Village is a magical play land featuring games, prizes, face-painting, and more.

Downtown comes alive with continuous free live music performed at the Heritage Music Stage. As part of this year’s theme, “Our Hometown Heritage,” the festival will feature bright, upcoming artists from the area, as well as hometown legends. The Bon Journeys will kick off the festival at 6 PM on Friday, September 3rd followed by Allison Collins at 8:30 PM. Saturday afternoon will feature the Crappell Brothers Band at 1 PM, Bits & Pieces at 3:30 PM, Dirty Play at 6 PM and Zebra at 9 PM. On Sunday, September 5th, JJ Muggler will begin at 1:00 PM followed by Chubby Carrier at 3:30 PM, Christian Serpas at 6:00 PM and Doug Stone at 9 PM. On Monday, September 6th, Tommy G & Stormy Weather will perform at 1 PM, followed by Hunter Hayes at 3:00 PM, Don Rich at 5:00 PM and Travis Matte at 7:00 PM.

Traditional activities include the Coronation Court & Pageant, Mass in the Park, Fireworks on the River, and the Blessing of the Fleet. The Coronation Court & Pageant will be held Saturday, August 28th, at 7:30 PM. at the Municipal Auditorium with the crowning of a new King and Queen.

The community will give thanks for its blessings at Mass in the Park. Mass in the Park begins at 8:30 AM Sunday, September 5th, and will be celebrated under the oaks in Lawrence Park. Everyone is invited to attend.

The Historic Blessing of the Fleet will begin at 10 AM Sunday, followed by the water parade, which features decorated shrimp boats, pleasure craft, offshore supply boats and some of the biggest “muscle” boats of the offshore industry including supply boats, crew boats and tugboats.

Fireworks on the River, sponsored by Bollinger Shipyard, Town of Berwick, Teche Regional Medical Center and G&J Land & Marine, will begin at 9 PM Sunday evening. Grab a spot in Lawrence Park or old Morgan City/Berwick bridge and enjoy the firework spectacular.

The festival began in 1936 when the placid port of Morgan City and Berwick received the first boatload of jumbo shrimp, fresh from the deepest Gulf waters. The festival became the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival in 1967, when the oil industry was firmly implanted into the local economy.

The festival has grown to become one of the state’s premiere festivals. The festival was voted 2009, 2007 & 2006 Festival of the Year in Division III and the best festival in 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998 by the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals, a top 100 American Bus Association event, and a top 20 Southeast Tourism Society event. In July of 1991 Time magazine described the festival as “...the best, the most unusual, the most down-home, the most moving and the most fun that the country has to offer.”

Festival organizers invite you to bring your family to Morgan City for Labor Day weekend to enjoy 75 years of tradition and family fun. For more information, contact the festival office at (985) 385-0703 or visit the festival’s web site at www.shrimp-petrofest.org. For a festival schedule, contact the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau at (800) 256-2931 or the festival office at the above number.
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Paddling through the Bayou Teche

The Tour de Teche will take place September 17 – 19, 2010. The Tour de Teche is a canoe/ kayak race through the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun Country. The adventure race begins in Port Barre, LA and travels 130 miles down the Bayou Teche to Berwick, LA. Paddlers have 60 hours to complete the trip.

The minimum age to enter is 13 years of age; however an adult must accompany the paddler for the duration of the race. The entry fee is $75 per paddler, free for members of the Armed Forces. For more information, visit www.techeproject.com or call Ken Grissom at (337) 394-6232.

MCPBA hosting Atchafalaya Inboard Powerboat Races

The Morgan City Power Boat Association will host Atchafalaya Inboard Powerboat Races on October 16 & 17, 2010 at the Lake Palourde Parkway in Morgan City, Louisiana. Over 100 powerboats in multiple classes will be awaiting spectators at this year’s festivities.

Pre-ticket sales will be available at $8.00 per person/per day thru Friday, Oct 15th, and $10 at the gate per person/per day; children 12 and under are free all week-end when accompanied by parent or guardian.

Anyone interested in advance tickets, tee-shirts, or sponsorship information can contact the Morgan City Power Boat Association c/o American Supply at (985) 384-3000, Oren Dupre at (985) 498-2926, or the Morgan City Chamber of Commerce at (985) 384-3830

Franklin’s 11th Annual Harvest Moon Fest - Just Around The Corner!

The eleventh annual Franklin Harvest Moon Fest will be held Saturday, October 16, 2010 from 9 am to 9 pm. Festivities will take place along Franklin’s Main Street in the downtown historic district. There is no admission fee. Harvest Moon Fest is a community-based downtown street festival celebrating the sugar cane harvest and the return of fall. Events for this year’s celebration include live entertainment all day long, children’s activities, arts & crafts, an Antique, Hot-Rod, Classic Car & Motorcycle Show, Chili cook-off, and much more.

Concession booths with local foods and arts and crafts will line the downtown area around the music stage. Live entertainment will be provided by Cross Roads, Jody & the Zydeco Poppas, Hott Dawgs, Ricky Lorenzo & Mark Robicheaux, and Flashback. All performance will take place at the stage in the center of Main Street in Franklin.
Harvest Moon Fest is a production the Franklin Merchant Association. For more information on Harvest Moon Fest contact Debbie Von Werder at (337)828-3706 or Joan Adams at (337)578-1505 or the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau at (800) 256-2931 or email info@cajuncoast.com

Louisiana Main to Main - November 13, 2010

Louisiana Main to Main Program Celebration in Morgan City, LA

Morgan City’s Main Street Program is hosting the “Atchafalaya Culinary and Arts Festival” Saturday, November 13, 2010 in the historic district of downtown Morgan City. There will be live music, a potluck team competition, and cooking demonstrations. To sample food, a $10 bracelet must be purchased. The Atchafalaya Culinary and Art Festival will also feature several artists. Anyone wishing to compete in the cooking competition or would like more information should contact Morgan City Main Street at (985)385-1770 ext 112.

If you would like more information regarding events happening on the Cajun Coast or would like pictures of any event, please contact us at (800)256-2931 or info@cajuncoast.com

Morgan City's Rhythms on the River

Rhythms on the River will kick off in downtown Morgan City, Friday April 9th at 6 pm between Front Street and Everett & Freret. De ja Vu will kick off the series. The After 8 Band will play April 16th, TK Hulin, April 23rd, The Wise Guys, April 30th, The Andy Smith Band, May 7th, The Good Feelin Band, May 14th, Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin Cajuns, May 21st, The Johnny Firmin Band, May 28th and Don Rich and the Don Rich Band, June 4th.

Rhythms on the River is a joint project by Cafe Jojo's, the City of Morgan City, Morgan City Main Street, St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce, Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau and Rain Angels - corporate sponsors.

For more information, contact the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau at 800-256-2931 or visit www.cajuncoast.com.

20th Annual Cypress Sawmill Festival

Slated April 9 - 11, 2010

The Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival, the Louisiana Association of Fairs & Festival’s 2008 Festival of the Year, will hold its 20th annual celebration at Kemper Williams Park in Patterson, Louisiana, April 9 - 11, 2010. This event is a family festival featuring professional lumberjack shows, chainsaw carving, a cypress sawmill display, numerous tournaments, a passé partout (two-person saw) contest, arts and crafts, Classic Car & Truck show, a street fair with rides and games, and food and drink booths. Zoo-Zoom, an exotic traveling petting zoo, an old engine display, and a fireworks salute to support services are included in this year’s festivities. Admission into the park is $5 per car on Friday, $10 per car on Saturday and Sunday, or $20 for a weekend pass.
Live entertainment on Friday includes Country Showdown, a country music talent contest and radio promotion. The contest spotlights some of the best and brightest local talent. The winner of the contest will compete for the state title later this year. The winner of the state title will receive $1,000 and advance to regional finals this fall. Visit kqki.com for more information.
Other live entertainment includes: Flashback, Friday at 9:30 p.m.; Brandon Bennett’s Elvis My Way, Saturday at noon; Waylon Thibodeaux, Saturday at 3 p.m.; Na Na Sha, Saturday at 6 p.m.; Ole Man River Band, Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Sunday’s line-up begins at noon with Explosion, followed by Southern Skkyy at 3 p.m., and Gene Romero’s Boogie N’ Brass begins at 6 p.m.
Overnight camping is available at Kemper Williams Park. For RV reservations or camping rates, contact Jerry Boyles at (985) 395-2298.
For directions or a complete schedule of events, contact the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau at 985-395-4905, 800-256-2931 or visit www.cypresssawmill.com.

Bayou Teche Black Bear & Birding Festival

Slated for April 16-18, 2010

The Bayou Teche Black Bear and Birding Festival will hold its annual celebration April 16-18, 2010 in downtown Franklin, Louisiana. The focus of the festival is educating the public about the Louisiana black bear and birding opportunities on the Cajun Coast, along with all the components of a traditional south Louisiana festival: great music and food, arts and crafts, and educational activities for both adults and children. Seminar topics will focus on bears, birds, and local habitats like coastal Louisiana and the Atchafalaya Basin.

Traditional events, like the Running of the Bears 5K Run/Walk sponsored by the Teche Action Clinic, a bike race sponsored by Franklin Foundation Hospital, the Bear-y-Patch Educational Area sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Cub Club children’s area, will be the backbone of the festival. Other attractions include a 20+ mile bike tour through Franklin and the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge, a Black Bear Obstacle Course, a Teddy Bear repair clinic, and fireworks over beautiful Bayou Teche. This year’s Teen Zone will feature Games 2 U, a video gaming van with some of the hottest games on Nintendo Wii and X-box 360. Games 2 U will also have laser tag and giant hamster balls for teens to enjoy.

This year’s activities also include a reenactment of Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. The parade will consist of riders on horseback in full costume depicting the Trumpet Soldiers, Buffalo Soldiers, and Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders.

Live entertainment includes Time Peace, Crossroads, Lil’ Nat and the Zydeco Big Timers, Louisiana Kids, Hunter Hayes, Chubby Carrier and Bayou Swamp Band, Sweet Spot, Tommy G. and Stormy Weather, Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, and Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Cha.

The third week of April is the peak of the migration of neotropical songbirds, birds that fly south for the winter and return each spring to breed and nest in North America. After the lengthy flight across the Gulf of Mexico to its northern shores, the trees along the coastal parishes offer the first resting places for birds before they continue their flight northward. It is a time when birds that are not considered residents of Louisiana can be seen along their migratory path.

For more information, contact Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau at (985)395-4905, (800)256-2931 or visit www.bayoutechebearfest.org.
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Eagle Expo

Speakers, Workshop highlight 5th Annual Eagle Expo

MORGAN CITY- The fifth Annual Eagle Expo, scheduled February 25-27, 2010, in Morgan City, Louisiana, will feature boat tours to view eagles, seminars from wildlife and nature experts, and opportunities to meet fellow birders.

Moving into its fifth successful year, the Eagle Expo is a tribute to the return of the American Bald Eagle to Louisiana, which was recently removed from the endangered species list in June 2007. Laws banning the use of harmful pesticides such as DDT and greater public awareness and education have increased the bald eagle population throughout Louisiana and the United States. Currently, there are 284 active nests in Louisiana with a large concentration in the St. Mary and Terrebonne Parish areas.

Highlighting this year’s expo will be a workshop taught by renowned wildlife photographer CC Lockwood on Thursday, February 25th. CC Lockwood is known for his numerous publications and books, especially his eleventh book, Marsh Mission, which brought attention to the crisis of the vanishing Gulf Coast wetlands. His photography has been featured in prominent publications such as the Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic Magazine.

The workshop includes a two-hour lecture on Digital Bird Photography at the Atchafalaya Golf Course in Patterson beginning at 2 p.m. and a boat trip to Bayou Black the following morning. The boat trip to Bayou Black will focus on birding and marsh landscapes. The workshop requires separate registration and payment. The cost of the workshop is $195.00. Contact CC Lockwood at www.cclockwood.com or atchbasin@aol.com. Space is limited.

A welcome reception, sponsored by the Black Bear Conservation Coalition, will be held at the Louisiana State Museum in Patterson, Thursday, February 25th, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Tours to view eagles will take place Friday, Feb. 26th and Saturday, Feb. 27th. Featured waterways include the Atchafalaya Basin, Lake Verret, Turtle Bayou and Bayou Black. Tours will be at 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday. Each featured boat tour offers something different to attendees.

The Atchafalaya Basin is the largest overflow swamp in the U.S. with 10 distinct aquatic & terrestrial habitats. Home to over 170 bird species, 50 mammalian species, 40 reptilian, 20 amphibian species and 100 species of fin fish and shellfish, the basin offers more than just eagles.

The Bayou Black Tour meanders through old oil and gas canals. Birds of prey including Bald Eagles, Ospreys and various species of hawks call this place home. Other birds likely to be encountered include various species of ducks, wading birds and song bird species.

Lake Verret and Bayou Magazille highlight another part of the basin spillway. Past participants have seen Bald Eagles and Osprey soaring overhead, fishing, or resting on treetops along the waters edge. Other wildlife including Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, White Ibis, Belted Kingfisher, Red-tailed Hawks, Double-crested Cormorants, Anhinga, the American White Pelicans and an occasional Peregrine Falcon have been seen.

The Turtle Bayou Tour includes two small natural bayous that provide for fantastic views and local wildlife. Aside from eagles other birds likely to be encountered include Anhingas, Double-crested Cormorants, Red-shouldered Hawks, White Ibis, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Carolina Chickadees and various species of terns and gulls.

Friday evening will feature Kurt Mutchler the Chief Deputy Director of photography for National Geographic Magazine at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City. Mr. Mutchler is responsible for overseeing the editing of all photographic content for the magazine and has worked there for 15 years. Prior to National Geographic, Mutchler was the photo and graphics editor at the Times-Picayune, New Orleans.

Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, will feature a variety of speakers including Deborah Fuller with the US Fish & Wildlife Service; Donna L. Dittmann & Steve Cardiff with the LSU Museum of Natural Science; Melanie Driscoll with the Audubon Gulf Coast Initiative; and Bill Clark, a birds of prey enthusiast.

Deborah Fuller has worked for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service since 1995. Her current position is the Endangered Species Coordinator for the Louisiana Field office. She works to ensure all species on the endangered species list are not adversely affected by other state and federal agencies’ actions. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has promoted the recovery of eagles, and other endangered animals, via funding for surveys and cooperative conservation with private landowners, as well as other governmental agencies.

Donna L. Dittmann and Steven W. Cardiff are collections managers at the LSU Museum of Natural Science. Donna manages the Genetic Resources Collection – the world’s largest frozen tissue repository. She is also the museum’s specimen preparator. Steve is manager of the Bird and Mammal collections. In addition to their involvement in ornithological research projects in Louisiana and elsewhere, both are also Members of the Louisiana Bird Records Committee, with Donna serving as Secretary and Steve as Chair. Donna is a longtime technical advisor to Birding magazine (she also appeared in a recent Birding interview: http://www.aba.org/birding/v40n5p22.pdf), and has also served on the American Birding Association Checklist Committee. Steve is currently the regional editor for the Arkansas-Louisiana seasonal summaries in the journal North American Birds. Donna and Steve have co-authored numerous identification articles on Louisiana birds, including those available at www.losbird.org.

Melanie Driscoll is Director of Bird Conservation for the Louisiana Coastal Initiative, where she is working on large-scale conservation planning and bird monitoring for habitats in Louisiana. Recently, she spearheaded Audubon’s intensive conservation planning in the Atchafalaya Watershed. She leads Audubon's efforts to identify, prioritize, monitor and implement conservation initiatives for Important Bird Areas in Louisiana, sites that provide important habitat for populations of birds during all seasons. Thus far, Melanie has led a team of technical experts in identifying over 17 million acres of important habitat for birds, with a focus on Mississippi River and Gulf Coast sites. She has been working with Audubon since January 2006.

Photographer, author, and lecturer Bill Clark has over thirty years of experience working with birds of prey, including five years as director of the National Wildlife Federation's Raptor Information Center. He has published numerous articles about raptors; has traveled worldwide studying, observing, and photographing these birds; and has led birding tours and workshops, both at home and abroad, in recent years with his company, Raptours. He regularly teaches courses on raptor field identification and biology and frequently lectures on birds of prey and related subjects. His goal is to see and photograph all of the world's diurnal raptors.

The Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau has partnered with the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Black Bear Conservation Coalition, National Audubon Society, Conrad Industries, Johnny’s Propeller Shop and volunteer birding enthusiasts to showcase not only the American Bald Eagle, but the numerous species of birds and wildlife found along the Cajun Coast.

For a complete event schedule, costs and registration forms, visit http://eagles.btnep.org, www.cajuncoast.com or contact the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau at 985-395-4905, info@cajuncoast.com .
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Harry Williams’ Classic Boattail Speedster Returns to Patterson, La. for Extended Stay

A beautifully restored 1928 Isotta-Fraschini luxury sports car owned by south Louisiana timber magnate and aviation pioneer Harry P. Williams is on display at the Wedell-Williams Memorial Aviation Foundation collection at the Louisiana State Museum, Patterson.

The Louisiana State Museum is located off Highway 90 in Kemper Williams Park, adjacent to the Patterson Civic Center. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (985)399-1268.

In the 1920s and 30s, cars produced by the Italian manufacturer Isotta-Fraschini were the epitome of speed and glamour – an irresistible match for air racing enthusiast Harry P. Williams and his actress wife, Marguerite Clark.

Between 1925 and 1931, the company made only 950 cars, which were highly favored by Hollywood silent film stars like Clara Bow and Rudolph Valentino. An Isotta-Fraschini played a small but pivotal role as Norma Desmond’s “loaner” in the movie Sunset Boulevard.

The Williams’ bought their Isotta-Fraschini in 1928, one of only two such custom boattails ever produced. The other one, in unrestored condition, sold at auction for $1.5 million. Equipped with a powerful 160-horsepower, the car could reach a top speed of 100 miles per hour.

After Williams’ death in 1936, the car remained garaged in Patterson until it was sold in the 1960s. The current owner, Peter Boyle, has loaned it to the museum for an extended exhibition – set among the beautiful racing aircraft developed and built in Patterson by Wedell-Williams Aviation.

Cajun Coast Mardi Gras Celebrations

St. Mary Parish has begun planning for the 2010 Mardi Gras season. There will be multiple parades throughout the parish for everyone in the family to enjoy.

The first parade of the season will take place on February 12, 2010 at 7 p.m. in Morgan City, LA. The Krewe of Adonis parade will begin on Federal Avenue near Shannon Elementary, travel along Onstead, Marguerite, Ninth, Victor II, and end on Myrtle Street.

Three parades will take place on February 13th. The Baldwin Mardi Gras parade will begin at 11 a.m. The Cypremort Point parade will begin at 1 p.m. The Krewe of Dionysus parade will be in Berwick at 2 p.m.

The Krewe of Galatea parade will begin at 2 p.m. in Morgan City on February 14th. The parade will begin on Second Street, travel along Onstead, Marguerite, and Victor II, and end on Myrtle Street. The Krewe of Amani parade in Patterson will begin at 2p.m. on February 15th. The parade will start on Red Cypress Road, travel down Martin Luther King Road, and end on Main Street near Place Norman Shopping Center.

The All-Krewes parade will take place in Franklin at 1 p.m. on February 16th. The parade will start near Franklin Senior High School, travel down Main Street and Willow, and end on Third Street.

The final parade for St. Mary parish will be the Krewe of Hephaestus parade on February 16th. The parade will begin on Sixth Street Morgan City at 2 p.m., travel along Marguerite Street and Victor II, and end on Myrtle Street.

Visit www.cajuncoast.com for maps of parade routes and other events happening on the Cajun Coast.
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