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A hard-to-miss billboard topped by an oversized “Yes” informs highway travelers that this year’s Shrimp and Petroleum Festival in Morgan City is still definitely on for Labor Day weekend.
In spite of the recent oil spill disaster in the Gulf, and plenty public adversity, the community of Morgan City will host its 75th annual festival, which honors both shrimpers and oilfield workers alike.
“It’s a celebration,” remarked Lee Delaune, the festival’s director. “Two industries are prominent in Morgan City: the oil industry and the shrimping industry. The festival is all about the people of the tri-city area and the people of these industries.
“As far as the adversity,” he continued, “I think they are trying to tie in the festival with the oil spill and that is not what we are all about.”
Morgan City actually felt few affects from the spill, according to the director, especially in regard to the shrimping industry.
“Our area, as far as oil spill relations, was not affected. To the point that I could probably say that the majority of our shrimping in our area was not destroyed,” he explained. “About the time of the oil spill, our local shrimping industry was telling us that they would definitely have shrimp for the festival.”
While the affects of the oil spill were less catastrophic for St. Mary Parish, Delaune said the disaster might even trigger a surge in turnout at this year’s event.
“As far as attendance, I’m really looking that this is going to be a blown-up festival this year,” he said. “And the reason I say that is since the spill in late April, we have been inundated with phone calls. I have been interviewed by the Orlando Sentinel, Washington Tribune, New York Times, Washington Post – there are so many. I just think with the interest of the oil spill, it’s going to bring a lot of people.”
The festival has also received some international media attention, to which Delaune has responded by welcoming all to Morgan City on Labor Day weekend.
“Today, in our office, we are doing a documentary with a Japanese television station,” the director exclaimed. “I have been interviewed by Tokyo television. We have received calls that representatives from England and France will be here during festival week and will be filming here in the office and on the festival grounds. I have invited each and every one of these people to come back for the festival.”
While the oil spill may have created a worldwide buzz about the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, locals have their own reasons to talk about the 2010 event – this year marks the Diamond Jubilee anniversary for the 75-year-old function.
The Gulf Coast Seafood Producers and Trappers Association started the festival in 1936 in celebration of local seafood industry workers. A year later, they had the first Blessing of the Fleet, where a priest blessed the fishermen and ships for a good harvest and safe voyage, followed by a small street parade. In 1967, the monumental addition of petroleum occurred and the festival’s logo was officially changed to what it is today – a big shrimp wrapped around an oil derrick.
“1967 will always be remembered as a landmark year for the festival,” according to the festival’s website. “This is the year that a marriage of shrimp and oil took place that would forever change the face of the festival.”
Situated in Morgan City’s Historic District, the event includes food, continuous free live music, children’s activities, crafts and a number of traditional events including rides and carnival games. The time-honored fleet blessing is also on the itinerary.
“We still have the Blessing of the Fleet. I always say that is one of the things that makes us more unique than other festivals because we still have shrimping boats, crew boats and big supply vessels – all of those people come into the Atchafalaya River and are blessed,” boasted the festival director. “They do the boat parade and they are blessed by the priest from the dock.”
In addition to the usual fun-filled features, a few special arrangements have been made to celebrate the fest’s anniversary, as well as the 150th birthday of Morgan City.
“We have two celebrations going on here, the 75th for us and the city of Morgan City is 150 years old,” Delaune said. “We’ve done some 75th memorabilia such as our pins … and our poster has the 75th emblem on it. Plus, the Marine Corps band will lead our parade this year. Our tribute to the 150th celebration of the city of Morgan City is to have a band in the park with food and everything on that Thursday night.”
Every year, the city of Morgan City and the entire parish receives an economic boost from this annual affair, according to Delaune.
“We are the largest economic impact in St. Mary Parish for a five-day event,” he said of the award winning celebration.
In symbiotic fashion, the Morgan City community, especially those in the shrimping and oil industries, are what help keep the festival alive.
“It’s all about the people. That is how we are supported. The people of the area and the companies of both oil and shrimping help us a lot. Hopefully, for the next 75 years, we will continue doing this,” Delaune said.
For a complete round-up of this year’s events, visit www.shrimp-petrofest.org, or call the festival office at (985) 385-0703.
Now in its 75th year the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival has garnered attention globally, thanks in large part to recent events in the Gulf of Mexico.
