Eunice, La

We started Saturday driving down the backroads from Chicot State Park near Ville Platte, La and were excited to pass a crawfish pond where the owner was emptying the traps.


Nearby the egrets and other birds were feeding on the crawfish ponds.


In Mamou folks were partying and enjoying the band at Fred's Lounge. They record a live radio show there each Saturday morning. During Mardi Gras the place is really lively. While folks drank and danced inside the boudin was being cooked outside.




Our next stop was to take in some more Cajun music at Marc Savoy's music store near Eunice. People from all over the world gather here to participate in the Saturday morning jam sessions. Nearby a pot of coffee, boudin, and cracklins are awaiting the visitors. An overflow group found a spot outside the building.




I thought it was interesting that the sheriff stopped to play his accordion while in uniform. Must have been taking a little music break!


We drove out to Church Point to see what was happening and were surprised to meet the 12-18 year old group on their courir from Eunice. They were traveling down the backroads where they would stop at various houses to catch chickens for a gumbo. They paraded through Eunice when they returned to town.


The delight of the day was the music show at the Liberty Theater. People were lined up at 2:15 to buy tickets at 4 and then went into the theater to save their seats until the 6 o'clock show. And it was all worth it.


The Jambalaya band played in their Mardi Gras costumes while Dr. Barry Ancelet from the Jean Lafitte Center narrated, mostly in French. The dance floor was filled with talented dancers.



The crowd was surpised when the Basile Mardi Gras showed up to entertain the crowd and beg for money for their gumbo. They hold out their hands for money and if they don't receive it the victim is liable to lose a shoe. What fun it was!