Festival Acadiens Et Creole, Lafayette, La. October 9,10 &11, 2009

Gator on a stick is an acquired taste I’ve heard.

    I’ll listen to that all day long, but I just can’t seem to bring myself to try it. I’m just not that adventurous when it comes to food. But I loved the Chicken Fricasse that Cafe des Amis brought to the festival. That was a chicken breast filet over rice and smothered with gravy!!  Then I followed that with Poupart’s chocolate eclairs. It was hands down the best food I’ve ever had at a festival. And the people…....
        Cajuns and Creoles know how to throw a party! It rained like crazy on Saturday and then again on Sunday, but that didn’t stop anyone from dancing as you can see from the pix. My booth was set up facing the main stage and the music was nonstop. From the moment I arrived on Friday to set up, people jumped to greet and help me. That doesn’t happen at festivals normally. It was just a foreshadowing of the further kindest I received throughout the weekend.
    Before the festival I did a little research on the origins of it and the culture of the people of Southern Louisiana. The festival started in 1972 in an effort to keep Cajun culture alive. There is such a deep, rich sense of pride that these people possess and it is seen in everything they do. The food, music, folk art, dance, everything…even the way they speak to you is enthusiastic and sincere. Check it out….http://www.festivalsacadiens.com/index1.html
  I was approached to do a 15’ commissioned piece for a local person on her property and I’m really excited about it. The space is beautiful…in a wooden pavilion where she entertains large parties and charitable events. Which means…..I get to see Lafayette again!!! I’ve been going about once every 5-6 weeks for deliveries and in the process I appreciate the environment more and more. I LOVE driving over the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge in anticipation of seeing the beauty of the swamps and waterways en route. Because I work long hours and days on end between shows, I thrive on my road trips. It’s my chance to socialize and take in the parts of what a community has to offer.
  I can’t end this blog without mentioning the Lost Bayou Ramblers. They played at the festival and it was amazing. A very talented bunch of guys who make your feet want to stomp and your tongue want to speak french. I highly recommend that anyone wanting to submerge themselves in Cajun history should start here. It was fantastic despite the rain!!