Shaking Out the Good Stuff – Festivals Acadiens et Creoles

This week our Shaking out the Good Stuff spotlight falls on a series of festivals where "shaking" is a keyword. Not only will you be shaking out the good stuff on your favorite Cajun and Creole dishes but chances are you'll be shaking a lot more than a leg to all the great Louisiana music you'll hear when you attend Festivals Acadiens et Creoles. 

This week as part of our weekly reminder of what's good in and around Acadiana we are using the spotlight provided by the Morton Salt/ Weeks Island facility to highlight a celebration that is way more than one festival. Festivals Acadiens is a music festival. It's an arts and crafts festival, It's a food festival, and It's a cultural celebration of all things Cajun and Creole.

The beginnings of Festivals Acadiens took shape back in the middle 70s. when CODOFIL presented the first Tribute to Cajun Music concert at Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette Louisiana. The event was moved to Girard Park in 1976 and from there it has grown to be the largest celebration of Cajun and Creole culture in the world.

Why is Festivals Acadiens So Important?

If ever there was an opportunity for the people of today to experience the lifestyles of yesterday it would be at Festivals Acadiens. This festival looks back as much as it looks forward. It's an ongoing history lesson that all of us in South Louisiana need to learn.

The story of the Cajuns and the Creoles is a story of perseverance and extreme independence. Those two qualities are what make today's Louisiana residents the way they are. You can hear those qualities in the music we play and the foods we make.

When is Festival Acadiens This Year?

Festivals Acadiens will run from October 13th through October 15th. The opening night ceremonies will include the traditional "cutting of the boudin" to open the festival. There will also be live performances by Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars. There will also be a Tribute to Clifton Chenier featuring Sonny Landreth. Corey Ledet Zydeco will also be featured as part of the opening night ceremonies.

For the complete Festivals Acadiens Musical Lineup, you can click here. For information on food that will be available, you can click here.

To learn more about great employment opportunities at Morton Salt/Weeks Island you can click here. You can find out more about other jobs available through Morton Salt you can click here. Shaking Out the Good Stuff is a weekly web feature supported by Morton Salt/Weeks Island that spotlights what's good about life and living in South Louisiana.