Cypress Sawmill Festival returns to Patterson’s roots

While nearby communities are tied to oil, cypress is at the root of Patterson’s economy.

In the late 1800s, lumber schooners used East St. Mary Parish’s waterways en route to sawmills that lined Bayou Teche, the lower Atchafalaya River, Bayou Ramos and Bayou Boeuf.

“Patterson was, at the time, the king of the cypress industry,” said festival director David Bourdier. “By 1908, it was the site of the largest sawmill in the world, owned by Frank B. Williams, which produced 150,000 board feet per day.”

In 1997, the Louisiana State Legislature, as a nod to Williams and the many people of Patterson who worked at the sawmill over the years, designated Patterson as the state’s cypress capitol.

“Our purpose for the festival is to preserve the existence of the cypress sawmill, which is a memory to some but a history lesson to most,” he added. “And we do it by showing off our culture.”

The 20th annual Cypress Sawmill Festival gets under way at Kemper Williams Park April 1. No fooling! And Bourdier expects more than 34,000 visitors over the three-day stretch.

“It’s a family-oriented affair,” Bourdier said. “There’s truly something for everyone. Mom, dad, the kids … everyone can find something fun to do.”

Diversity is what’s made the event a “Top 20” must-see, according to the Southeast Tourism Society. The Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals also named it “Festival of the Year” in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

And affordability ensures people keep returning. “Our price for a weekend pass is $20 per vehicle,” Bourdier said. “It doesn’t matter if you pack the car with five or 50. And you can still go in and out of the park throughout the weekend.”

The car admission is $5 for Friday only, or $10 each for Saturday or Sunday.

The 290-acre Kemper Williams Park grounds provides a perfect stage for the All-American Lumberjacks Show. Based out of Minnesota, the group returns for the third year and performs each day of the festival.

According to show founder Jim Fisher, the All-American Lumberjacks Show celebrates the fearless men of the trade who opened the land to farms and cities. “The tales of their feats are as big as a pine tree and lumberjacks always claimed to be the best,” he said.

Two teams perform 10 lumberjack events, including cross cut sawing, log rolling and ax throwing. With a few tips from the pros, festival-goers of all ages are invited to join in the fun. And carvers will enjoy the chainsaw carving demonstrations. Fisher said, using lightweight saws, special bars, a plain old log and a lot of practice, lumberjacks are able to carve just about anything imaginable: bears, eagles, turtles, cactus, mushrooms and the like, all of which are for sale.

Friday’s events include the 3rd annual Cypress Sawmill Golf Tournament at the Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild in Patterson, arts and crafts fairs and, that evening, performances by the Colgate Country Music Showdown and Members Only Band.

The rides, provided by Mitchell Brothers Amusement, include an Amazon jungle, rock climbing and bungee jumping.

On Saturday, there’s a softball tournament, fun walk, sawmill display in the museum, a Zoo-Zoom petting zoo, gumbo cookoff and music throughout the day by Johnny Firmin & Company, TK Hulin & Smoke, Sean Vidrine & Da’Classics with Charlo and Bobby & the Rockers.

At 9 p.m., fireworks will light the sky in honor of law enforcement, firefighters and rescue personnel.

Sunday’s fun includes the 18th annual Classic Car & Truck Display, a motorcycle poker run, and passe’ partout. Grammy Award-winner Chubby Carrier, Cypress Band featuring Warren Storm & Willie Tee and Foret Tradition also perform.

Sawmill artifacts as well as vintage planes and vehicles from the Wedell-Williams Aviation Collection are also on display at the museum, which is open all weekend.

Proceeds from the event go to the building fund for the new Louisiana State Museum-Patterson.

“Ten dollars is very cheap for the whole family to go anywhere to be entertained,” Bourdier said. “We have fabulous food and all-around good entertainment to offer. We’re just hoping to see everyone out there.”