The Second Annual Louisiana Swamp Stomp Festival, open to the community, will be held Friday through Sunday.The festival will start at 3 p.m. Friday with the opening of the Bayou French Tent in the parking lot adjacent to John L. Guidry Stadium. There will be no fee to enter the Bayou French Tent; however, to get behind the Swamp Stomp Festival gates, there will be an admission fee of $10 per day or $25 for the weekend, to be paid at the gate. Children 11 years old and younger will get in free.
Parking for the general public will be between Audubon Drive and Guidry Stadium, adjacent to the Max Charter School and across Madewood Drive from Gouaux Hall.
Once inside the festival gates, two stages will be set up, the Cypress stage and the Tupelo stage, named after Louisiana trees. Anke Tonn, associate librarian at Ellender Memorial Library, said, “When one band stops playing on one stage, the other band on the other stage will be already set up and ready to start playing.” She said there will be constant music playing.
The Lost Bayou Ramblers, Don Rich and Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band will perform Friday. Tonn said Don Rich will close out the evening, playing from 9 to 11 p.m.
Inside the Bayou French Tent, there will be performances and demonstrations on how to cook Cajun food, as well as demonstrations revolving around Cajun culture, ranging from paper pulp painting to woodcarving. There will also be vendors and entertainment for children. The Bayou French Tent will be in front of the Swamp Stomp gates.
Swamp Stomp started as the annual Cajun and Zydeco festival in the library.
“I started here in 1996. I would do a Cajun Culture display in the library, and I would have a band come play with it. This became an annual event,” Tonn said.
Brenda Haskins, executive director of the Student Union, approached Tonn and asked her if she would want to start a new festival. Tonn said last year was the first time the festival was put on, and it was very successful.
“Everyone is invited to come attend the Swamp Stomp Festival,” Tonn said. “Last year, they had people from all over the United States and Canada.
