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If you looking for the ultimate Louisiana Cajun experience, here’s a festival to check out. Now, of course, you are going to have to fill up your gas tank before hitting the road. It’s a little bit of a drive to Evangeline Parish. But this road trip will be worth it because the Town of Mamou has some of the best boudin and sausage you could taste. Ask anyone! It’s a small town but yet so authentic. People still speak French to each other in most of the little shops. This event coming up is actually focused more on the music side of Cajun culture. But while you are in town, why not check what else Mamou has to offer.
Coming up on Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21 is the 48th Annual Mamou Cajun Music Festival. It is held in the Mamou Recreation Center. The building is easy to find. It is huge and just off of Main Street. You can see it from Highway 13. And although this giant building has air conditioning you will probably sweat anyway with all the dancing you will be doing. It is $10 per day and free for children under the age of 12. This festival features some of the top Cajun bands in Acadiana. Every year a distinguished musician is recognized and this year the festival is honoring Jason Frey.
This festival is a family-friendly event. And if you do not know how to dance, this is the perfect time to learn. There will be instructors teaching attendees how to two-step. Or you just let the music move you to the beat. Just don’t step on anyone’s toes. The little music festival has happened in Mamou for years. And it’s not just dancing, there will be lots of games that include egg throwing and the art of climbing a greased pole. Needless to say, you should definitely wear nice clothes.
Check out the list of events.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Here’s the schedule:
7:00 pm to 8:45 pm – Lafayette Rhythm Devils
8:45 pm to 9:30 pm – First Cousins Film Presentation by Moriah Istre
9:30 pm to 11:30 pm – Geno Delafose and French Rockin Boogie
Games: 8:30 pm – Potato Dance
Saturday, Sept 21, 2019
9:00 am to 11:00 am – Seth Spell and Cajun Strong
11:15 am to 1:15 pm – Lee Benoit and Friends
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm – Jason Frey and Lagniappe
3:30 pm – Honoree Presentation: Jason Frey
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm – La Recolte
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm – Kyle Huval and the Dixie Club Ramblers
9:00 pm to 11:00 pm – Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys
Games:
11:00 am – Egg Throwing
11:45 am – Cajun Dizzy Dash
12:00 pm – Children’s Sack Race
12:15 pm – Boudin Eating
1:00 pm – Children’s Watermelon Eating
1:15 pm – Women’s Beer Drinking
1:30 pm – Men’s Beer Drinking
2:15 pm – Children’s Guinea Chase
3:15 pm – Women’s Passe Partout
3:45 pm – Men’s Passe Partout
4:15 pm – Women’s Nail Driving
4:45 pm – Men’s Nail Driving
5:00 pm – Greased Pole Climbing
Workshops:
Friday, September 20, 2019
7:30 pm to 8:15 pm – Zydeco Dance Lessons with Moriah Istre
Saturday, September 21, 2019
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm – Cajun Dancing with David and Lynda Stockinger
1:15 pm to 2:15 pm – Capuchon Making Sponsored by The Crawfish Barn
