Bayou area celebrates its heritage

The Friends of the Edward Douglass White Historic Site are hosting Bayou Lafourche Heritage Day on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 2295 St. Mary St. in Thibodaux.

This is the first Heritage Day event since 2005. It is more of a demonstration festival than a fine arts festival, according to organizers.

The day lends itself to allowing craftspeople to interact with attendees, explaining the cultural and historical significance of their craft while they demonstrate their talents. Some will also offer their finished wares for sale.

“We have a guy, Ray Weimer, who makes wooden cypress cisterns and shingles. So he he’ll be demonstrating shingle making,” said past board president Peggy Benoit. “We have Tracy Baudoin, who will be showing how to make cane syrup. We’ll have various ceramics artists and lots of painters, including Alvin Batiste and Joan Thibodaux.”

The event is free to the public. There will be two bands playing – The Hurricane Levee Band from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and The Lafourche Cajun Band from 2 to 5 p.m.

There’s also going to be Cajun foods sold, like sauce piquant and pork rinds.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council as administered by the Houma-Terrebonne Arts and Humanities Council.