Bayouland YMCA fest offers fun for all ages

For its 3rd consecutive year, the James J. Buquet, Jr. Bayouland YMCA is sponsoring the Downtown Family Fun Fest and 5K Walk to help benefit the organization.

The annual two-day event is the YMCA’s only major fundraiser, as they no longer hold raffles and other events, according to executive director Angie Falgoust.

“Unfortunately, we are not privileged to federal, state or local funding,” she said. “The YMCA operates on memberships, grants and contributions alone. To make the festival successful, we reach out to businesses and individuals for support.

“This is our make-or-break event every year,” she added.

Falgoust said proceeds help fund scholarships, disabled water therapy classes, after-school care and various equipment, including helmets and balls.

The Fun Fest, held on Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15, features tons of food, a jaw-dropping music lineup and loads of fun and games for the whole family.

Gates open at 10 a.m. both days.

Throughout Saturday and Sunday, local artists bring their music to life.

The Soul Ful Sounds Band kicks things off from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. A half-hour later, REAUXSHAMBO takes the stage until 4:30 p.m. Southern Cross will entertain the audience from 5 to 8 p.m., and the Gashouse Gorillaz close the first day from 9 p.m. to midnight.

On Sunday, Souled Out takes the stage from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. before the “Zydeco Man” Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. closes the fest from 5 to 7 p.m.

“It’ll be hard to top the venue that we have in music,” Falgoust said. “We really brought in some great bands that everyone would enjoy.”

The Houma Hogs are also hosting a poker run Saturday, which winds up at the festival grounds. Proceeds from the ride also benefit the YMCA.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage, wings, sundaes, red beans, boudin, gumbo, jambalaya, seafood, sweets and fries are among the variety of food that will be sold.

“We’ve nearly tripled the number of food vendors this year,” Falgoust boasted. “We’ll also have people selling crafts. All of our crafts are authentic, all hand made.”

Falgoust said the Kid’s Corner is a major focus this year.

“We’ve sunk a lot of money (in the Kid’s Corner) to make sure this is very attractive,” she said. “There is inflatable bull riding. There is a 5-foot rock-climbing wall. We’ll have interactive inflatable mazes. We have the bounce houses and the slide but they are massive, 50-by-50.”

In addition, Frank and Tammy Chiasson are providing face painting and balloon art, clowns are roaming the festival grounds and Houma’s WOW Café and Wingery restaurant is holding its wing-eating contest finals.

Last year’s Downtown Family Fun Fest drew double the crowd as the inaugural event. The second festival fell on the heels of hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Ironically, the YMCA’s doors were still closed because of storm damage, making the fundraiser that much more vital.

Now that operations are finally back to normal, organizers hope to again double attendance.

“Based on the race forms that we’ve gotten in already, it’s amazing how fast it’s growing,” Falgoust said. “It’s a great event that’s fun for the whole family. We encourage people to come out and enjoy themselves.”

Admission is $3 per person. Children age 10 and under get in free.

For more information about the festival or 5K run, call the Bayouland YMCA at (985) 873-9622.