T’ville fest offers fun for the whole family

This year’s Thibodeauxville, held on Nov. 8, is no different than previous years. It’ll have live music, food, shopping, kids activities and fun for the whole family.

More than 140 arts and crafts vendors will display and sell their handiwork, everything from arts and crafts to paintings.

For those not shopping or eating, live performances will be held throughout the day. Two stages will provide musical entertainment, one featuring the Dixieland Jazz Band from 9 a.m. to noon and Water’s Edge from 1 to 5 p.m.

Stage two will feature Christian music all day from local churches and organizations, chairwoman Rhonda Dempster said.

Just as in the past, Thibodeauxville will once again offer rock climbing, face painting, finger painting, the ever-so-popular petting zoo and bouncer slides entertainment for youngsters.

Also returning this year is the Clean Wheels Car, Truck and Bike Show hosted by the Thibodaux Cajun Corvette Club, which runs all day.

This year’s event kicks off at 8:30 a.m.

Saturday kicks off with the annual 5K Run. Participants must arrive downtown to register at 7 a.m. The race begins at 8 a.m., starting downtown and making the trek around Thibodaux to Peltier Park, then back downtown.

The winners of the 5K Run will receive trophies as well as the pride of knowing they finished.

“We want everyone to come out and experience the life of downtown Thibodaux,” Dempster said. “It’s truly a great family-oriented event.”

New this year to the festival will be a look back into historic downtown Thibodaux.

“We do have a display for historic buildings upstairs at Fremin’s (Restaurant), that’ll be there all day,” Dempster said. “There are also going to be pictures of the historic downtown area back in the day from the 1800s and early 1900s displayed in some of the windows in the downtown area.”

Things officially kick off the night of Nov. 7 with the Norm “Big Boy” Swanner cook-off. The event honors the deceased councilman and former owner of Bubba’s, who was a regular contestant in the cook-off.

All day Friday downtown, Thibodaux will be filled with the smell of food wistfully moving about the air.

The categories for the cook-off include jambalaya, gumbo, variety and dessert.

Prizes will be given to the top chef. Judging for the event takes place at 6 p.m. on the corner of W. 2nd Street and St. Phillip Street.

Dempster said all proceeds from the cook-off go to Thibodaux Main Street, the event sponsor.