Vieux To Do 2010 in the French Market. Photo by Kim Welsh.
For the fifth year in a row, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation has partnered with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board and the New Orleans French Market to present their “three festivals in one weekend” celebration. The three festivals—the Creole Tomato Festival, the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival, and the Louisiana Seafood Festival—are intertwined into one consolidated event, known as the New Orleans Vieux To Do.
Vieux To Do is free to the public and takes plcae this Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12, starting at 11 a.m. The festivals span an eight-block area, along the Mississippi River, from Jackson Square to the Old U.S. Mint.
Cajun and zydeco bands will perform on three stages around the Mint and French Market until 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Headliners include BeauSoleil, Terrance Simien, and Chubby Carrier. Two stages are on either side of the Old U.S. Mint, while the Ursulines Street stage is located under the French Market Arch, amidst the dozen Creole Tomato Fest specialty food booths. The Farmers Market will host a demo cooking stage, featuring French Market District chefs, along with the first annual Creole Tomato Eating Contest.
Creole Tomato culinary talks are scheduled at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park in Dutch Alley both days from 12:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. The park, at St. Phillip and Decatur Streets, will also feature an arts market, sponsored by Dutch Alley Artists co-op, along with a variety of activities for children, including a children’s stage.
The Louisiana Seafood Festival booths will be located around the Old U.S. Mint, featuring unique Louisiana seafood dishes from local restaurants and caterers. Featured favorites range from shrimp and roasted corn cheese grits to Krispy Kreme bread pudding. For a complete list of food vendors, go to louisianaseafood.com.
New this year will be screenings of the documentary film The Prmised Land: A Swamp Pop Journey, which features performances by southwestern Louisiana musicians, including Li’l Band O’ Gold, C.C. Adcock, Warren Storm, Steve Riley, David Egan, and Li’l Buck Sinegal. The screenings, co-presented by the New Orleans Film Society, begin at 3 p.m. each day at Maison on Frenchmen Street.
“If you have been kept away in past years by the prospect of June heat, have no fear this year!” said French Market Marketing Director Amy A. Kirk Duvoisin. “We have over 30 air-conditioned restaurants, music and culinary talks indoors at the air conditioned Jazz Park, free tomato tastings in several areas to keep you hydrated, plus the new indoor, air-conditioned cooking demo tent alongside the French Market, thanks to the Louisiana Seafood and Promotion Board!”
Here’s the full lineup of music:
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
ESPLANADE AVE. STAGE
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Joe Hall & the LA Cane Cutters
1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Bruce Daigrepont
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience
BARRACKS ST. STAGE
11:00 am to 12:30 pm T-Broussard & the Zydeco Steppers
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm Les Freres Michot
3:15 pm to 4:45 pm Roddie Romero & the Hub City Allstars
5:15 pm to 6:45 pm Lost Bayou Ramblers
URSULINES STREET STAGE
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Creole Zydeco Farmers
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Terry & the Zydeco Bad Boyz
4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots
SUNDAY, JUNE 12
ESPLANADE AVE. STAGE
11:30 – 1:00 p.m. High Performance
1:45 – 3:00 p.m. The Bluerunners
3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Nathan Williams & the Zydeco Cha Chas
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band
BARRACKS ST. STAGE
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Ray Abshire
3:15 – 4:45 p.m. Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express
5:15 – 6:45 p.m. BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
URSULINES ST. STAGE
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Mary Broussard & Sweet La La
2:00 – 3:30 pm The Magnolia Sisters
4:30 – 6:00 pm Big Red & the Zydeco Playmakers
