If there’s two things that absolutely do not go together like red beans and rice, it’s shrimp and petroleum.
Official festival poster by Tony Bernard.
Nevertheless, the 81st Annual Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival will return to downtown Morgan City, LA for yet another celebration of the region’s biggest exports this Labor Weekend.
Slated for September 1-5, the festival will feature an art show and sale, a showcase of local “home style” Cajun and Creole cooking, a street parade, fireworks on the river, a children’s village and plenty of free live music. In accordance with a tradition that began in 1936, the five-day event will climax with the “Historic Blessing of the Fleet” on the Atchafalaya River, which will be followed by a water parade of decorated shrimp boats, pleasure crafts, offshore supply boats and “muscle” boats.
Performers on the bill include Cowboy Mouth, MoJEAUX, Chubby Carrier, Don Rich, The Ross Grisham Band, ZOSO, Toff O’Neill, Category 6 and many more. Music will take place at the Heritage Music Stage from on September 2-5. There will also be Cajun and zydeco dance Lessons at the stage on Saturday and Sunday.
More information on the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival–including details on the car show, gospel stage, children’s activities, and Sunday’s Mass in the Park–can be found via its website.
81st Annual Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival Music Schedule:
Friday, September 2
5 p.m. – Cliff Hillebran & the Anytime Band
7 p.m. – The Kyle Wilson Band
9 p.m. – ZOSO
Saturday, September 3
11:30 a.m. – Cajun and Zydeco dance lessons
1:30p.m. – Geno Delafose
4 p.m. – The Beau Young Band
6:30 p.m. – Category 6,
9 p.m.– Cowboy Mouth.
Sunday, September 4
noon – Cajun and Zydeco dance lessons
2 p.m. – Chubby Carrier
4:30 p.m. – South 70 Band
7 p.m. – Todd O’Neill
9:30 p.m. – MoJEAUX.
Monday, September 5
11 a.m. – Just Cuz Band
1:30 p.m. – The Pontchartrain Wrecks
4 p.m. – The Ross Grisham Band
6:30 p.m. – Don Rich.
