2018’s Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo will feature over 30 musical acts on four stages, plus an arts market with 60 regional artists and plenty of family-friendly activities. Those are all characteristics consistent with the festival’s past incarnations, but this year’s Bayou St. John event will feature a notable new inclusion: an admission fee.

Festival organizers today (April 20) announced Bayou Boogaloo will, as always, be free…only this time, attendees will have to pay a fee to enter after 3 p.m. on each day of the festival (May 18, 19 and 20). Those arriving after the cut-off time will be charged $10 on Saturday and Sunday, whereas Friday will be only $5. As always, children under 12 are free all day, every day.

According to a press statement, festival founder Jared Zeller says, “The economics of a totally free festival are challenging and depend on the changing realities of weather and sponsors,” says festival founder Jared Zeller. “To offset the substantial costs of production, infrastructure and security, the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo will now be free until 3.” 

Three-day general admission wristbands for the festival are $20.00 in advance and allow re-entry. They can be purchased on-line http://www.thebayouboogaloo.com/tickets-merch-2/general-admission/ and at the gate on festival days.

As previously reported by OffBeat.com, Original Meters guitarist and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Leo Nocentelli will make his debut Bayou Boogaloo appearance this year, as will Marc Broussard, Deacon John & The Ivories.