Fun awaits you Down the Bayou

Southeast Louisiana is busting at the seams with October festivals to suit every taste from food to music to culture.

The 37th Annual French Food Festival is Oct. 29-31 at the Larose Regional Park and Civic Center on La. Highway 308 in Larose.

“This is the best thing our community has to offer. It’s the true community spirit of a small town; family, food, music and culture all rolled into one three day event,” Jasmine Ayo said.

The first thing visitors will notice on the fairgrounds is the huge tent jammed with 28 food booths.

“We were thinking about having salad this year but I don’t think it will go with Cajun food. It’s not deep fried,” Ayo joked.

Shrimp boulettes, crawfish etouffe, seafood gumbo, alligator sauce piquante, white oyster soup, shrimp po-boys, jambalaya, pork routee, gratons, and more.

For the sweet tooth sample the pralines, tartes a la bouille, cobblers and beignets

But this is more than just a food festival. Carnival rides, games, and art show, auction, crafts, Cajun folklife demonstrations, a dance contest and trick-or-treating for the kids are just a few of the surprises awaiting you.

Bring your dancing shoes to join in the great music and dancing. Friday’s band line up is Gary T, Rockalanche then Halifax. Saturday Waylon Thibodeaux leads the way followed by Junior LaCrosse & Sumtin Sneaky, Southern Cross and the Chee Weez. And Sunday it’s Foret Tradition and the Hurricane Levee Band.

“This is a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event. It’s a pretty big award and we’ve won it twice. You have to have over 30,000 people in attendance to get it,” Ayo said.

“We have all this stuff going on in business and industry but let’s come out for French food and celebrate the stuff that matters – family, community and culture,” she continued.

To finds out more, contact Ayo at (98) 693-7355 or visit www.bayoucivicclub.org.