Delcambre kicks off its 63rd Annual Shrimp Festival today marking an entire weekend dedicated to the local the shrimp industry.
The city of Delcambre, located a mere 20 miles southwest of Lafayette, is hosting its annual Shrimp Festival this weekend to honor its economic backbone, the shrimp industry, on the grounds of the Delcambre Shrimp Festival Building off Highway 14. The festival's many events include a shrimp cook-off, boat parade, queen pageants, water fights, live music and fais-do-do's, arts and crafts booths, carnival rides and the blessing of the shrimp boat fleet.
From Wednesday, Aug. 14, to Thursday, Aug. 15, the festival kicks off at 6:30 p.m., with "family night" at the street fair from 6:30-10 p.m. Guests can ride all carnival rides for one price and dance with DJ Homer Stelly starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
The festival continues on Friday, Aug. 16, starting at 6:30 p.m., with concessions, street fair and fais-do-do with music by Beau Young, Gene Watson and Wayne Toups. Admission is $5 and free for children under 12.
On Saturday, Aug. 17, the shrimp cook-off starts at 9 a.m., with concessions and street fair opening at 11 a.m. Chef Patrick Mould will offer cooking demonstrations from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. with local Vermilion Bay Sweet Shrimp, which will be available for sale. Guests may ride all rides for one price from noon to 3 p.m. Then national recording artist Joe Diffie, DJ Homer Stelly and local bands Geno Delafose, Krossfyre and Mike Dean entertain at the all-day fais-do-do starting at 7 a.m. Admission is $10 and free for children under 12.
The festival comes to a close on Sunday, Aug. 18, starting at 10 a.m. with the Fisherman's Mass at the Shrimp Festival Building, followed by the traditional "Blessing of the Fleet" and boat parade. Concessions and street fair open at 11 a.m. and guests can ride all rides for one price from noon until 4 p.m. Live entertainment will be provided by LA Express with Tommy McLain and Johnnie Allan starting at noon. Admission for Sunday's finale is free with all concessions closing at 4 p.m.
For more information on the Delcambre Shrimp Festival, visit ShrimFestival.net, find them on Facebook at Facebook.com/DelcambreShrimpFestival or call (337) 685-2653.