Since 1972, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles has been serving up the best of Cajun culture to an amassing fan base. The annual festival, held in Lafayette’s Girard Park, delivers a zestful combination of food, crafts and Cajun music that ranges from Cajun giant Steve Riley to Creole traditionalist Joe Hall to the fiery zydeco-rock of Wayne Toups. The festival is free and takes place this weekend from Friday, October 14 through Sunday, October 16.

“It provides a great place for national and international travelers to immerse themselves in the Cajun and Creole cultures of south Louisiana,” says Kelly Strenge, Marketing Director for the festival. “All in one place you can find the music, the food, the crafts, workshops and demonstrations.”

Originally called the Tribute to Cajun Music Festival, the event began as an effort to preserve the rich and varied cultural heritage of the Acadian people. This year, the festival is expanding into a three-day celebration that commences with a Friday night fais-do-do. Another recent addition to the festival’s amenities that’s gaining popularity is the dance hall tent, or Salle de danse, equipped with wooden floors that allow two-steppers to indulge in an authentic dance hall atmosphere.

“When you go out there, there is no shortage of dance partners,” Strenge says. “Everybody dances with everybody, young and old, so not a single person would have a hard time trying to get on the dance floor.”

In addition to popular seasoned artists, the festival also features up-and-coming bands, like Ryan Brunet and the Malfacteurs or Feufollet, with young band members that attract a new generation to the Cajun music scene, advancing the festival’s mission to keep a once-fading culture alive and bustling.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a good Cajun festival without the food, of which there’s a long, salivating menu that includes dishes like crawfish etoufee stuffed potato, shrimp and tasso pasta, fried bacon-wrapped shrimp, and seafood boudin balls. On Saturday and Sunday there will also be cooking demonstrations throughout the day from area chefs.

“Just go out and have a great time,” says Strenge. “The festival is free, so frequent the festival vendors and help us keep it free by purchasing food, music, pins, souvenirs, and crafts from our local craftsmen.”

For more info, visit festivalsacadiensetcreoles.com. Here’s the full Festivals Acadiens et Créoles 2011 music schedule.

 

Friday, October 14

Scène Ma Louisiane (Festival Stage)

5:15–6:15 p.m. Geno Delafose with Christine Balfa

6:30–7:30 p.m. Hert LeBlanc with Bruce Daigrepont

7:45–8:45 p.m. Joel Sonnier with Michael Doucet

 

Saturday, October 15

Scène Ma Louisiane (Festival Stage)

10:30-11:30 a.m. Lafayette Rhythm Devils

11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Joe Hall and the Cane Cutters

1-2:15 p.m. Pine Leaf Boys

2:30-3:30 p.m. Isle Dernière

3:45-4:45 p.m. Walter Mouton and the Scott Playboys

5-6:15 p.m. Bonsoir Catin

6:30-7:45 p.m. Feufollet

Heritage Stage

10:45–11:45 a.m. Ellis Vanicor and the Lacassine Playboys

12–12:45 p.m. En Français

12:45–1:30 p.m. Lost Bayou Ramblers

1:45–2:45 p.m. Preston Frank, Ed Poulard and Friends

3–4 p.m. Unisson

4:15–5:15 p.m. Geno Delafose

5:30–6:30 p.m. Roddy Romero and the Hub City All-Stars

6:45–7:45 p.m. Horace Trahan and the New Ossun Express

Salle de Danse

12–1:30 p.m. Robert Jardell and Pure Cajun

2–3:30 p.m. Terry and the Zydeco Bad Boyz

4–5:30 p.m. Corey Ledet

Louisiana Folk Roots Atelier

11 a.m.-12 p.m. LFR Kids’ Camp Spotlight hosted by Henry Hample

12:15-1:15 p.m. Cedric Watson & D’Jalma Garnier

1:30-3 p.m. The Acadian Connection featuring Unisson, Hert Leblanc, Bruce Daigrepont and Blake Miller, facilitated by Valerie Broussard Boston and Lucius Fontenot

3:15-4:15 p.m. Marce Lacouture’s Festival Community Chorus with special guest David Greely

4:30-6 p.m. McCauley, Reed & Vidrine Reunion

 

Sunday, October 16

Scène Ma Louisiane (Festival Stage)

10:30-11:30 a.m. Rachel Wilson and Cajun Express

11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Cameron Dupuy and the Cajun Troubadours

1-2 p.m. Mamou

2:15-3:15 p.m. Beausoleil

3:30-4:30 p.m. Hert LeBlanc

4:45-5:45 p.m. Bruce Daigrepont

6-7 p.m. Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys

Heritage Stage

11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Ryan Brunet and the Malfacteurs

12:30–1:45 p.m. Jambalaya (with D.L. Menard)

2–3 p.m. Chubby Carrier

3:15–4:15 p.m. Jesse Legé, Joel Savoy and Cajun Country Revival

4:30–5:45 p.m. Wayne Toups & ZyDeCajun

Salle de Danse

12–1:30 p.m. The Savoy Family Band

2–3:30 p.m. Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys

4–5:30 p.m. Balfa Toujours w/special guest Ray Abshire

Louisiana Folk Roots Atelier

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Twin Fiddling with Jonno Frishberg & Gina Forsyth

12:45-1:45 p.m. Christine Balfa, Courtney Granger and Tony Balfa

2-3 p.m. Classie Ballou Jr., Jeffery Broussard, D’Jalma Garnier and Brandon Ledet

3:15-4:15 p.m. A Memorial Tribute to Peppy Carmello