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Louisiana Festival Roundup
Louisiana has so many awesome festivals, it’s hard to pick which ones to go to! Here are our top picks for the best upcoming LA festivals. Whether you’re looking for good food, good music, or just a good time, we’ve got you covered!
Crawfish Festival – Beaux Bridge, May 3rd
Held in the “Crawfish Capital of the World,” The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is an annual festival held to promote the crawfish industry in Louisiana and the culture of Cajun Country.
The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival has also been featured in documentaries by CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, The Food Channel, and PBS. It has been featured in Maxim Magazine, Southern Living, National Geographic, The New York Times, Country Cooking, Motorhome Living, and Better Homes and Garden publications. The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival was named a top 10 Food Festival by USA Today. [http://www.bbcrawfest.com/about_us.html]
Cochon de Lait – Mansura, May 10th
The Cochon de Lait Festival is held annually on the second weekend in May in Mansura, Louisiana. Mansura is the Cochon de Lait capital of the world. The festival mixes great Cajun food, good times and Louisiana music with the famous cochon de lait (French for roast suckling pig). There is plenty to see and do for an entire family to “pass a good time.” [http://www.cochondelaitfestival.com/index.html]
Greek Festival – Baton Rouge, May 11th
The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Baton Rouge wants you to join them in a celebration of Greek culture, entertainment and cuisine at the 2nd Annual Baton Rouge Greek Festival in Downtown Baton Rouge on Saturday, May 11, 2013, at the Town Square festival venue. Festival goers will dine on Greek food cooked by members of the Church, using authentic Greek recipes. A Greek band, “Alpha Omega Sound,” from Atlanta, GA will provide live entertainment and visitors will learn traditional Greek dances. The Holy Trinity Greek Dancers from New Orleans will also perform throughout the day. An assortment of beverages, Greek pastries, Mediterranean arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry, religious icons, festival T-shirts and a festival poster will be available for purchase. [http://brgreekfest.com]
Bayou Boogaloo – New Orleans, May 17th
The 8th Annual Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo Festival that will be held Friday May 17 – Sunday May 19, 2013 along the banks of historic and beautiful Bayou St. John. As always the Festival is a family-friendly event with a kid’s stage, along with games and activities for children. Attendees can partake in delicious food, spirits and libations, listen to great local music, and enjoy the very best art that New Orleans has to offer. [http://www.thebayouboogaloo.com]
Jambalaya Festival – Gonzales, May 23rd
The Jambalaya Festival Association, chartered in 1967, invites you to mark your calendar for the 46th annual Jambalaya festival to be held in Gonzales, Louisiana on Memorial Day Weekend, May 23 – 26, 2013. Your whole family will enjoy the vast variety of food, fun, music and activities that have made the Jambalaya Festival the can’t miss highlight of the year.
The festival features World Champion Jambalaya served daily, live music and entertainment, carnival rides, cooking contests, a variety of food and so much fun it takes four days to get it all in. [http://www.jambalayafestival.org]
NOLA Food and Wine Experience – New Orleans, May 24th
Over the past 20 years the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience has raised more than $1 million for non-profit organizations right here in our community, while showcasing local food and chefs, and national and international wines. We invite you to raise a glass and be a part of the festivities as we make New Orleans a better place to live, work and play. This year in an effort to fight hunger and support culinary education, the 2013 beneficiaries will share 100% of the proceeds. Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana will receive 40% and the following will share the remaining 60%: the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation’s ProStart Program, Delgado Culinary Arts School, New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts’ Culinary Program, the John Folse Culinary Institute and the Edible Schoolyard New Orleans. [http://www.nowfe.com]
Cajun Heartland State Fair – Lafayette, May 23rd – June 2nd
The 25th Annual Cajun Heartland State Fair scheduled May 23 – June 2, 2013 will provide the best in family entertainment for children of all ages. North American Midway Entertainment will have numerous super rides such as the giant Ferris wheel, Crazy Mouse and the Mega Drop! Games, free concerts and free attractions will entertain everyone. Prizes and surprises await everyone at the Cajun Heartland State Fair. [http://www.cajundome.com/chsf.aspx]
The Truth Behind Voodoo Dolls
You can take the girl out of New Orleans, but you can’t take New Orleans out of the girl. Such is the case with The Stockade’s innkeeper Janice DeLerno, who has brought the culture and artifacts of her hometown back to Baton Rouge. Around the Stockade Bed and Breakfast, visitors can find a wide variety of artwork and artifacts from New Orleans — including a small collection of authentic voodoo dolls.
While many tourists mistakenly believe that Voodoo is linked to satanic rituals or black magic, this is not true. Voodoo began when Catholic plantation owners forced their slaves to practice the Catholic faith. Although the slaves took up Catholicism, they also found ways to maintain their traditional African religions. Voodoo is a spiritual practice that has its roots in these traditional African religions, and it is a complex three-tiered spiritual system based on God, spirits, and ancestors.
The term “gris-gris” refers to both the objects used in Voodoo and the magic they provoke. The Voodoo doll is a form of “gris-gris,” a way of invoking the spirits to act in a certain way.
While Voodoo dolls are often portrayed in movies as being a way to harm or manipulate another person, they are more like a representation of another person that is used to make an appeal to the Voodoo spirits. To link the doll to the person it is meant to represent, hair or other personal effects is pinned to the doll using a straight pin or a thorn.
Other techniques used to strengthen the power of the doll include attaching rose petals (for love), garlic or clover (for luck), or placing it between blue and white candles (for healing). Most importantly, the doll must remain hidden — otherwise, the person it is modeled after can take measures to undo its power!
Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum is dedicated to Voodoo and its history in New Orleans. For more information on Voodoo dolls, check out their website: http://www.voodoomuseum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6&Itemid=10
Do-It-Yourself Mardi Gras Door Decor
When it comes to Mardi Gras floats, costumes, and beads, bigger and flashier is always better. So if you’re decorating your home for Fat Tuesday, you’ll want to make sure to choose decorations that capture all the drama of Carnival season. Here’s a simple DIY project that will add some Mardi Gras flair to your front door!
You will need:
- 2 rolls of deco mesh in Mardi Gras colors ($5—$15, craft stores)
- 1 garland (we used a fake pine garland left over from Christmas)
- twist ties / pipe cleaners
- hammer and nails
- ladder
- ornaments (optional)
Step 1.
Hang the garland by securing nails into the doorframe. For a brick surface, Tapcon screws can be drilled into the mortar joints (the white lines between bricks).
Step 2.
Once your garland is secured around the door frame, it’s time to attach the first sheet of deco mesh. Unwrap the deco mesh and pinch the end together, securing with a twist tie.
Step 3.
Secure the mesh to the garland using a twist tie, or if your garland has wire branches (like ours), by wrapping the garland around the mesh.
Step 4.
Continue attaching the mesh to the garland, placing a twist tie or branch every 7 or 8 inches. This will create a “bubble” in the deco mesh. Don’t worry — the bubbles don’t have to be perfectly round, and it actually looks better if they don’t! Note: Make sure you’re not wrapping the mesh around the garland, but rather securing it only on the front side. When you’re finished, your garland should look like this:
Step 5.
Once you’ve finished attaching the first sheet of mesh, it’s time to add the second. We tried to attach ours so that the “bubbles” alternated in color. Finally, add ornaments by hanging them onto the garland and add a wreath for a finishing touch! (We made our wreath by using two sheets of deco mesh and using the same method used for the door frame).
Voila! Now that your door is fully decorated, it’s time to invite some friends over and laissez les bon temps rouler!
A Haven for Our Guests — And for Our Wildlife!
Photo courtesy of Annette B. Rapier
You’ve probably heard Louisiana referred to as “Sportsman’s Paradise,” since our state is teeming with wildlife and provides the perfect retreat for birdwatchers, fishermen, and outdoorsmen. But did you know that the National Wildlife Federation has recognized The Stockade Bed and Breakfast as a certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat site?
According to the Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program, The Stockade has been certified in the National Wildlife Federation’s worldwide network of “mini-refuges where, because of the owner’s conscientious planning, landscaping and sustainable gardening, wildlife may find quality habitat — food, water, cover, and places to raise their young.”
Although most guests at The Stockade are only able to catch a glimpse of our wildlife, there are many species that live on our eleven-acre property. I’ve spotted foxes, opossums, bats, snakes, raccoons, all kinds of birds (including barred owls, barn owls, and screech owls) and deer sign.
CC Image “Screech Owl” by twoblueday on Flickr
In addition to the wildlife, the property is also home to several native Louisiana plant species, including cypress trees, oak trees, pecan trees, crape-myrtles, camellias, and magnolias.
So if you went on down to the Audubon Zoo and they all asked for you, chances are you’d feel right at home staying among the amazing wildlife at The Stockade Bed and Breakfast!
The Highland Stockade: A Historical Treasure
Did you know that The Stockade Bed & Breakfast got its name from the Civil War Highland Stockade that was once located on its grounds? The Highland Stockade was a strongpoint built by Union troops to protect the southern entrance into Baton Rouge. In fact, archaeological investigations have unearthed four clusters of artifacts on our property, including four Civil War-era bullets, a brick feature, and several personal items.
According to an account written by Guy C. Pierce, Lt. Major 4th Wisconsin Cavalry, Captain Pierce and his Company went with Major Craigne on November 7th, 1864 and occupied the Highland Stockade, which had been built by Major Craigne just the year before. Their job consisted of guarding the river and preventing the rebels from transporting salt and beef from western LA and Texas across the river.
The Highland Stockade remains an important historic site and is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. It’s a perfect example of the small camps and check-points the Union constructed to guard major roads leading into cities. The Stockade’s rich historical significance makes it an ideal spot for history lovers to visit — so if you or someone you know is a Civil War buff, why not book a room today?
SOURCES:
Image courtesy of http://www.hughesfamilies.com/fourth/index.cfm?FuseAction=SoldierDetail&RosterID=1680
A Taste of Cajun Country
Louisiana’s ethnic roots reach back to French and Spanish traditions, seasoned with African, Anglo-Scots-Irish, Caribbean, and Native American heritage. The various influences add a little spice to each area of the state. One of the most celebrated regions is Cajun country. And the Louisiana Bed and Breakfast Association has many member properties located in the area.
Travel we
st from New Orleans for approximately 120 miles and you arrive in the center of French Louisiana, also called Acadiana, or Cajun country. Lafayette sits at its core, where I-10 intersects with I-49, and Cajun culture meets the 21stCentury. Stop at Dwyer’s Café for some of the best gumbo in the area, and at the Blue Dog Café for the étouffée and a look at works by artist George Rodrigue.
Throughout the region – at cafes, gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants – you’ll see signs advertising fresh boudin, a sausage traditionally made with pork, liver, long grain rice, and spices. The Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau in Lake Charles offers a “Boudin Trail” guide that lists places to find the delicacy. Among the stops are Abe’s Grocery in Lake Charles, Brown’s Grocery in Hackberry, Comeaux’s Cajun Gold in DeQuincy, Poche’s Market and Restaurant in Breaux Bridge, Rabideaux’s Sausage Kitchen in Iowa, and Richard’s Boudin and Seafood Market in Sulphur.
You need only to ask your Innkeeper with help on where to go and what to do in Cajun country. Let your Bed and Breakfast lodging hosts be your guides.
Order Like a Local
If you want to get local treatment, you need to speak the language. Louisiana has a language of its own, derived from the French speaking populations that settled here hundreds of years ago.
Practice these few colloquial words and you’ll be treated like a pro.
Ètouffée (ay-too-FAY): Spicy Cajun stew traditionally made with crawfish and vege
tables, served over rice.
Boudin (Boo-dan): Sausage usually made from a blend of pork, rice, onion, parsley, and green onion.
Crawfish (Craw-fish): Small freshwater relative of the lobster.
Jambalaya (Jum-ba-li-ya): Combination of cooked meats (seafood, wild game, etc.) cooked in a broth with rice and spices. The Creole version adds tomatos, the Cajun version is usually prepared without them.
Maque Choux (Mock-shoe): Creamy stewed corn dish made with corn, onion, celery, green pepper, tomato, and spices.
Muffuletta (Moof-a-lotta): sandwich stuffed with ham, salami, cheese, and a mixture of chopped olives, garlic, onions, celery, and olive oil.
Bon Appetit!