Cook-Off, Thibodauxville boast town

As the weather continues to cool down making outdoor events more manageable, two events in Thibodaux on consecutive days are set to bring people back to the historic downtown area.

The Big Boy’s Main Street Cook-Off Nov. 7 and Thibodauxville Nov. 8 will do what southeast Louisiana does best – bring great food and music to our people.

The Big Boy’s Main Street Cook-Off honors the founder of the event former Thibodaux City Councilman and owner and manager of Bubba’s Restaurant & Sports Lounge Norman “Big Boy” Swanner who passed away in 2006.

Thibodaux Main Street, a non-profit organization that promotes historic downtown Thibodaux, took over the event after his passing and kept the Big Boy name to honor him. Thibodaux Main Street Executive Director Rhonda Dempster said cooks show up at about 10 a.m. because all food must be cooked on-site. Doors open to patrons at 5 p.m. with a $5 entrance fee including samples of the food after about 6 p.m. when the judges have decided winners in three categories – variety, soup/gumbo and jambalaya/pastalaya – as well as an overall winner. 

“It’s a family-oriented atmosphere so you can bring your children,” Dempster said.

Then, back by popular demand is the band Nonc Nu & Da Wild Matous, performing on a stage at the corner on St. Phillip and West 2nd streets.

“Last year was the first year we had them, and we were all going, ‘Oh goodness.’ Well, they were so good that people were saying, ‘Can you bring them back?’ So they’re playing again this year. They were awesome. They play a wide variety of music, and they are very, very good,” Dempster said.

Dempster expects about 3,000 patrons and hopes to match last year’s total of 36 cooks. Space may still be available for cooks, and anyone interested in participating in the Cook-Off may contact her at thibodauxmainstreet@yahoo.com or (985) 413-9886.

“The weather is so nice and people are out and about looking for things to do and this is just one of them. It’s a very well attended event. If you’ve never been here it’s worth coming to see,” she said.

The event goes until 11 p.m., setting the stage for an annual autumn tradition – the 22nd Thibodauxville Fall Festival.

The one-day free festival put on by the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. with practically as many Cajun dishes as you could possibly imagine.

“Oh gosh, there’s such a variety,” Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Kathy Benoit said when asked what types of food would be available. “We have 24 food vendors and each vendor is allowed to serve three items and no item can be duplicated so that’s how many food choices we have – everything from hamburgers to nachos, Asian cuisine, jambalaya and white beans of course and gumbos and everything imaginable. We have some professional caterers who come out and prepare food, and we also have a lot of backyard chefs. A nice mix of variety.”

There will be three stages featuring music throughout the festival. The stage in front of Red Goose Saloon will provide music from Cameron Richard from 9 a.m. to noon and Snapper and the Fishsticks from 1 to 5 p.m. The stage at West 3rd and Jackson streets will feature French Bred from noon to 3 p.m., and a third stage on West 4th Street near Canal Boulevard will have live Christian music and dance all day.

“There’s a variety of music that suits everybody’s style and there’s something for the entire family,” Benoit said.

The Rev. Duane Bland of Thibodaux Family Church spearheads scheduling music and dance on the 4th Street near Canal Boulevard stage. He said the church’s music team will perform from 10 a.m. to noon before giving way to youth dance teams from Just Jazzin’ Dance and Tumble as well as Stacey’s Dance Studio.

“They do a fabulous job in the afternoons. They’re very talented people. They bring out a lot of people and very gifted, talented group of young people,” Bland said. “The city of Thibodaux is just so open to the gospel of Christ, and they allow us to bring in good, wholesome music that edifies a man’s soul and brings encouragement to it and the same thing with the dance. It attracts mommas and daddies and grandparents and family members to watch their children perform but it also captures the attention of the community to hear 50 or 60 or more children that are dancing and worshiping the lord.”

The highlight of Thibodauxville is the annual rubber duck race in Bayou Lafourche. A whopping 2,000 rubber ducks are dropped into Bayou Lafourche, and patrons may purchase raffle tickets with corresponding numbers on the ducks. Those with numbers matching the first six rubber ducks to cross the finish line win cash prizes.

“It’s quite a spectacle,” Benoit said. “Last year it was really hilarious. Just as we launched the rubber ducks into the bayou, a flock of live ducks decided to join in on the action. It was really hysterical.”

Benoit said that the Thibodaux Police Department has estimated that about 15,000 people have attended Thibodauxville before. Local bars will be open for both events if patrons wish to find alcoholic beverages during the events.

“We’d like to invite everyone to come out,” Benoit said. “We’re going to have the best weather ever and a great day to visit with people on the streets that you haven’t seen in a long time. And it’s a great opportunity to start your holiday shopping because our vendors make beautiful crafts and beautiful artwork just in time to bring in the holidays.”

Patrons enjoy good food and good times at last year’s Big Boy’s Main Street Cook-Off. 

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