The annual Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair will be held April 29 through May 2 and feature live music, games, rides, concessions, a $10,000 raffle drawing, an auction and a parade to help raise funds for the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department. Mike Naquin, Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department chief and assistant vice president of the controller’s office, said this is their main fundraiser, and it helps to provide the funds required to operate for the year.

Naquin said the auction, which will be held at 7 pm Saturday, has become its own event and will include handmade cypress furniture, fishing trips, four wheelers, scooters, barbecue pits, paintings and drawings.

“Last year, we had over 500 items,” Naquin said. “A lot of it is donated merchandise.”

Naquin said another highlight of the fair over the years has been its musical entertainment, which has included Percy Sledge, the Little River Band, Starship and Wayne Toups.

This year’s line-up will feature the Bucktown Allstars, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twister, Al “Lil Fats” Jackson and his Big Band, Classic Rock All Stars, Louisiana’s LeRoux featuring Fergie Frederiksen of ToTo, Starship and more.

“If the weather is good, we expect the turnout will be big,” Naquin said. “If it’s not raining, it will be a good fair.”

Food available at the fair will include gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and sausage, hamburgers, boudin po-boys, shrimp creole, mini crawfish pies, crab cakes with crawfish sauce, sausage po-boys and other regional dishes.

“There is always good food, entertainment and carnival rides for the kids,” Naquin said.

This year’s parade, “Thibodaux Treasures,” will take place on Sunday at 11 am.

“Eight different companies belong to the Thibodaux Volunteer Firemen’s Department,” Naquin said. “The children of the members of the companies help decorate and ride on the floats.”

The fair will be held on the Firemen’s Fairgrounds on Tiger Drive.

The Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair’s roots can be traced as far back as 1883. One of the fire departments in Thibodaux held a fair and raised $245 to help construct a fire hall.

“Each fire company was responsible for raising their own funds,” Naquin said.

Naquin said the fair has taken place ever since, though it wasn’t until the late 1940s it took on its more recognizable form.