The Opelousas Spice & Music Festival, a unique three day celebration showcasing the area’s rich Cajun and Creole culture, is scheduled for June 4th – 6th in historic downtown Opelousas. Once again, the festival will offer an exciting venue for music entertainment, Cajun and Creole foods, arts and crafts and a host of cultural activities.
The Spice & Music Festival will kick-off with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30pm on Friday, June 5th, followed by a special blend of musical performances including Same Ol 2 Step, Pine Leaf Boys, and Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers. Arts and Crafts booths will also be on site.
On Saturday, the festival grounds will open at noon with a live DJ and arts and crafts with live music by Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys beginning at 1:00pm. Following Naquin is the blues and swamp pop sounds of Gregg Martinez, R&B sounds from Connie G as Tina and Creole Soul, Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band, Roddie Romero and the Hub City All Stars and Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws.
Also on Saturday, the festival will offer exciting events and activities such as a 1:30pm Fiddle Jam Workshop with Hadley Castille and Friends and a 3:00pm History of Jure,’ A Creole Workshop led by Cecilia Broussard and members of the Broussard family. Both workshops will be held at the Delta Grand Theatre on Market Street across from the St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square. The Fiddle Jam will include guests such as David Greely of Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Beau Thomas of the Lafayette’s Bayou Boys and Chris Miller, fiddle instructor from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Meanwhile, Cajun and Creole Cooking demonstrations are scheduled on Saturday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm under the Targil tent. In addition, a Zydeco Dance Contest will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening. A new addition to Saturday will be the Kid’s Corner where children 12 and under will be able to create arts and crafts from 12:00noon to 3:00pm.
The nearby Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center will host a special exhibit opening reception from 11:00am to 1:00pm for artist Adrian Fulton. Fulton is also this year’s official festival poster artist.
On Sunday, Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble takes the stage at 1:00pm, followed by Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, Geno Delafose and French Rockin Boogie and Chris Ardoin and NuStep. In addition to great music, Sunday will feature a Spice Bar-B-Que Cook-Off Contest, where individuals and teams will grill up their favorite meats for competition. Spice Bar-B-Que Cook-Off entry forms are available for download on the festival’s website at www.opelousasspiceandmusicfestival.com Other Sunday activities include a Pepper Eating Contest at 2:30pm and a Cajun Dance Contest at 5:00pm.
Of course, the Spice & Music Festival will offer Cajun and Creole food lovers plenty of mouthwatering dishes including entrees like crawfish etoufee, boudin balls, red beans and rice and fried catfish.
On Saturday and Sunday, festival admission is $10.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 12 years and younger. On Sunday, people can take advantage of early bird admission of only $5.00 from 12:00noon to 2:00pm. Lawn chairs are welcome. For more information about the 2010 Opelousas Spice & Music Festival, visit www.opelousasspiceandmusicfestival.com or call (337) 948-6263 or (800) 424-5442.
