Yambilee Festival Cancelled

For the first time since 1946, there will be no  Louisiana Yambilee Festival this year. The annual celebration of our beloved sweet potato is one of the oldest and most historic festivals in Louisiana, and there are several factors going into the decision to cancel this year. Yambilee board president Yvonne Normand says the decision to cancel the festival was not easy, but she felt she had no choice. Normand says there isn't enough manpower to make the festival happen. She posted ads in the paper and online asking for more volunteers, but only one responded. Also, getting volunteers hasn't been the only problem, the festival has been struggling over the years and attendance hasn't been strong.

I remember seeing a picture from years ago with then US Senator John F Kennedy as Grand Marshall of the Yambilee parade, so this makes me very very sad not only for the folks in Opeousas and St Landry Parish, but for all of us who have loved the festival over the years.