The NOLA Zydeco Festival will bring the sounds and flavors of Acadiana to Crescent Park on Saturday, March 26. This free, family-friendly event will feature not only live bands and musical acts, but will also offer authentic zydeco dance lessons, along with access to delicious food vendors and unique merchandise. The festival entrance is located at the foot of Elysian Fields Avenue along the Mississippi River near the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
HostsHarold Guillory and Charisse Gibson of WWL-TV will keep the energy going all day at NOLA Zydeco Fest along with Zydeco dance instructors Arthur Corbin and friends. Zydeco bands and artists set to headline this year’s event include Chris Ardoin, Rusty Metoyer and The Zydeco Krush, Marcus Ardoin and Da Zydeco Legendz. All bands will be performing live on the Alphonse “Bois Sec” Ardoin main stage.
“This event is filled with great music and entertainment paired with great local chefs and spring cocktails,” said said Gabrielle Deculus, cofounder of the festival. “We are excited to join forces with so many culture bearers and three New Orleans’ landmarks: The Mississippi River, French Quarter and Crescent Park”
Cofounder Courtney Smith added, “We have been planning this for a while to honor our great-grandfather Alphonse ‘Bois Sec’ Ardoin and his Creole zydeco legacy, as well as all families and friends that love to dance and sing, gathering is important.”
SCHEDULE
11:30 a.m. Welcome parade (gates open)
12 p.m. Marcus Ardoin and the Zydeco Legends
1:30 p.m. Zydeco dance lessons with Arthur Corbin and Imesha Semien-Jones
2:30 p.m. Rusty Metoyer and the Zydeco Krush
4:30 p.m. Zydeco dance lessons with Arthur Corbin and Imesha Semien-Jones
5 p.m. Brass Band and Flag Boy Doogie of the Wild Magnolia Tribe Mardi Gras Indians
5:30 p.m. Chris Ardoin
7:30 p.m. Closing
Festivalgoers will enjoy a wide selection of food options, from boiled seafood, boudin and turkey legs to fresh fruit smoothies and snoballs. Vendors include 504 Seafood, Gumbo Gouroux, Nola Cookie Company, Zydeco Snow, Elton’s BBQ and many more.
On Thursday, April 17, NOLA Zydeco Festival will present a pre-party concert by Lil Nate at Culture Park, an outdoor bar and lounge located at 3000 Franklin Avenue. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the concert begins at 9:30 p.m. Attendees may RSVP at [email protected].
For more information, visit nolazydecofest.com.
