Harlan Kirgan
The third Experience Louisiana Festival scheduled Oct. 28 and 29 at LSUE is taking shape and organizers are beginning to think about the need for volunteers.
And there is more than a pat on the back for volunteers at this year’s festival.
Volunteers will get a festival T-shirt, said Dwight Jodon, one of the Eunice Rotary Club organizers.
The call for volunteers is about to go out on social media, he said.
Volunteers may sign up at experiencelouisiana.org or call 337-457-1776, he said.
The festival also is in need of sponsors, he said. The festival is mostly a free event and depends on donations and sponsorships to continue, he said.
“There were many $100 sponsors last year and that goes a long way,” he said.
This year’s festival is to focus on Louisiana agriculture, which will join other festival formats such as film, a car show, folklife, crafts, vendors, arts and food.
The agriculture village is to be located in the northwest quadrant of the festival grounds with displays and exhibits and demonstrations under two tents.
An equine group plans to demonstrate horse training techniques and, in the festival’s usual eclectic nature, a guy who calls himself a bee whisper will be hand perhaps to create a festival buzz.
“The Larry the Bee guy is going to demonstrate extracting honey,” Jodon said.
A county agent is bringing a Hollywood Squares sort of game to the festival that involves forestry knowledge.
The Louisiana Dutch Oven Society is to be on hand to demonstrate cleaning, seasoning and cooking with cast iron cookware. They plan to prepare bread pudding and have sample cups in the agriculture village.
The live music schedule for the main stage has been completed.
Oct. 28
10 a.m. — CFMA Young Musicians.
Noon — Dustin Sonnier & The Wanted.
2 p.m. — Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie.
4 p.m. — Kyle Huval & The Dixie Club Ramblers.
6 p.m. — Rendez-Vous des Cajuns Radio Show featuring The Band Courtbouillon.
Oct. 29
10:30 a.m. — Warren Storm - Willie Tee & Cypress Band.
12:30 p.m. — Louisiana Red.
2:30 p.m. — The Savoy Family Band.