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.
###

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