Spring is in the air in St. Martin Parish, as are the plaintive cries of fiddles and the pop of frying cracklin’s. As things are heating up, so too are everyone’s dancin’ shoes. Here are some not-to-be-missed dates, promising singin’, fais do-do’n, crawfish boilin’ and roux burnin’—and a whole lotta dang good eatin’.
Heartstrings and Angel Wings Fest
March 9: Heartstrings and Angel Wings Gumbo Cook-Off
For the fourteenth year, this annual event returns full-fume. Teams from across the region convene at Henderson’s Henry Guidry Memorial Park to try their hand at brewing the best version of Louisiana’s most famous, and most argued-over, recipe. Come at noon, when the kids’ entertainment will begin—including a butterfly release(!) at 2 pm at the Pavilion. For $10, participants get a live butterfly to release, for the chance to be part of a one-of-a-kind, beautiful spectacle. All-you-can-eat gumbo will be flowing from 3 pm, with an estimated 25 samples to try. Live performances by Cory Landry and LA Red, plus a live auction, will round out the experience. It's all for a great cause: providing clothing for premature babies. Entry to the cook-off is $10 per person, with children twelve and younger free. Details at heartstringsandangelwings.org/gumbo-cookoff.
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Acadian Memorial Heritage Festival
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Boating Bayou Teche during the Acadian Memorial Heritage Festival
March 16: Acadian Memorial Heritage Festival
Called by the spirit of Acadie’s most prevailing legend, descendants of the Acadian refugees and appreciators of their history will return to the iconic Evangeline Oak for the annual Acadian Memorial Heritage Festival. Expect to revel in a most delicious spread of Cajun delicacies the likes of jambalaya, gumbo, and cracklin’s—and to take part in Cajun dance classes, mask-making workshops, readings of Longfellow’s iconic poem, and more. All will culminate in a ritual re-enactment of the historic arrival of the deported Acadians into Attakapas territory, performed by the acting troupe Theatre Cadien. This year’s festival will honor the Dupuis and Cormier Acadian families. Admission is free. Details at the Acadian Memorial Facebook Page.
Cycle Zydeco
April 3–April 7: Cycle Zydeco
There aren’t all that many events during which you get to traverse up to sixty-two miles of picturesque landscapes by bike, fuel up on craft beer, go Cajun dancing, and eat some of the most (culturally) rich food in the world. Dubbed “the festival on wheels,” Cycle Zydeco returns for four days this spring, promising swamp tours, Zydeco dance lessons, and stops at some of the region’s finest restaurants and watering holes—including Buck and Johnny’s, Café Sydnie Mae, Bayou Teche Brewing, and more. Passing right through St. Martin Parish, the routes bring bikers by some of the area’s most culturally-significant destinations, including the Evangeline Oak and NUNU’s in Arnaudville. Registration is now open, starting at $265. Overnight accommodations include hotels, airbnbs, and campsites. More details at cyclezydeco.org.
Cracklin Cook-off
April 5–6: Parks Cracklin’ Cook-Off
Started almost fifty years ago by local musician Mark Doré, the annual Parks Cracklin’ Cook Off is all about community: it’s about coming together to celebrate local culture and cuisine, and about helping each other out. Held at the Cecile Rousseau Poche Memorial Park, the annual festival donates its proceeds to various entities in St. Martin Parish, including schools, individuals in need, churches, and nonprofit organizations. Guests can expect two days of beloved local acts performing on stage, family activities, a raffle, a poker run, and—of course—a cracklin’ cook-off. $5 per person each day, with children twelve and younger free. Details to come at parkscracklincookoff.com.
April 6: Fete de la Nature BioBlitz and Crawfish Benefit
Once again, scientist/artist Brandon Ballengée and his wife Aurore invite the community to Atelier de la Nature—their nature reserve and sculpture park in Arnaudville, where they are working to re-establish a Cajun prairie and other native habitats through intentional planting and nurturing. Each year, just after Easter, they host their annual Fete de la Nature, a free, family-friendly event celebrating Acadiana’s natural environments through the lenses of art, live music, food, and science. A major component of the event is the BioBlitz, in which guests get to act as citizen scientists—seeking out many of the diverse species of animals, fungi, and plants on the Atelier de la Nature. Chef Colt Patin of the Culinary Institute of Baton Rouge will also be in attendance, with pounds and pounds of boiled crawfish on hand for purchase. Camping is encouraged, for a small fee of $10. 6 am–10 pm. More details to come at atelierdelanature.org.
May 3-5: Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
For over sixty years, Breaux Bridge has reigned as the Crawfish Capital of the World—a title that annually draws thousands from around the globe to the little Cajun town for its annual Crawfish Festival at Parc Hardy. Expect nonstop cultural to-dos onstage and off, including Celebrity crawfish-eating contests, Cajun and Zydeco dance lessons, crawfish races, cook-offs, and a parade to pull it all together. That’s not to mention the 30+ local bands, the best of the bunch, providing a lively backdrop to all the fun. Keep an eye out for the lineup, to be announced in the coming months at bbcrawfest.com. Grounds open at 4:30 pm Friday, ($10) 10 am Saturday ($15), and 9 am Sunday ($5). $25 gets you access to all three days.
Stay up to date with the latest happenings in St. Martin Parish at cajuncountry.org.
