Port Barre Cracklin Festival Canceled

2020 is certainly taking a toll on some of our most beloved events here in south Louisiana. Although we have been hopeful that things would return to normal by now, we are sad to say that it definitely hasn't happened yet. Another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic was announced yesterday, and we are truly sad about this one.

The Port Barre Lions Club puts on the fun and tasty Cracklin Festival every November. It is their major fundraiser for the year, and is always packed with people looking for a great time with some delicious food, carnival rides, and a festive atmosphere throughout the entire town. The Club put out a statement on their Facebook page yesterday stating that "We have been told that the town is following state guidelines, and this limits the number allowed in the fair grounds to 250. This number INCLUDES Lions, vendors, and attendees. There are still rules about wearing masks, social distancing, and so on. Because of these issues, we have decided to cancel the Festival this year." You can see their whole statement below.

However, there are several events associated with the festival that will continue as usual for 2020. According to comments made on the Facebook page from Lions Club members, all pageants will go on as scheduled. Unfortunately, the annual parade, which is a highlight for the community, will not be held this year either. The official website for the festival has not been updated since last year, so they were probably expecting this to happen.

We are looking forward to a fun Cracklin Festival for next year, Port Barre!