Opelousas will host the 35th annual Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival on Sept. 2. The festival will be held at the Yambilee Festival grounds, an indoor facility located at 1939 W. Landry St.
The gate opens at 11 a.m. Music begins at noon.
Performers include Grammy winner Chubby Carrier & Bayou Swamp Band, Jamie Bergeron & the Kicking Cajuns, Nathan Williams & Zydeco Cha Cha, Lil Nate & the Zydeco Big Timers, Travis Matte & the Kingpins and Step Rideau & the Zydeco Outlaws.
Lena Charles, festival director, said the festival draws about 3,500 people, but she suspects that the breakfast and parade will bring more visitors to Opelousas this year.
The breakfast, scheduled for 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., will include live music. At 10 a.m., the parade will roll down Landry Street and should pass downtown Opelousas around 10:30 a.m., Charles said.
Events such as the Black Pot Cook-Off and Accordian Contest are also scheduled.
The festival features vendors selling traditional Creole food, barbecue, fried fish, jambalaya and carnival food like corn dogs and curly fries. Vendors can register online.
Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. RV parking is $10. Glass containers, barbecue pits and open flame burners are not permited on festival grounds.
Evangeline Downs will host a kick-off dance the night before the festival at 9 p.m.