Today I begin my virtual tour of Louisiana festivals as part of the annual A to Z Blogging Challenge. My goal is to highlight various aspects of Louisiana culture as they are celebrated throughout towns and cities across the Bayou State. I have been to many of the festivals I'll write about this month, but many more I have not. An extra benefit of the Challenge is that I'll add to my adventure to-do list.
Many of the festivals I feature will be found here in my hometown of Lake Charles, La. After all, with over 70 annual festivals, the Lake City is known as the festival capital of Louisiana! Plus, I love to tout the merits of southwest Louisiana.
A is for Art, Alligators, and Andouille Sausage!
The Arts and Crabs Festival takes place every summer here in Lake Charles. At this annual fundraiser for the Arts and Humanities Council, numerous local chefs and restaurants feature their best crab dishes while artists display their work. And no festival is complete without lively music. Find out more here.
This is a photo of one of my favorite watercolor artists in Lake Charles, Sue Zimmermann, taken at the 2011 Arts and Crabs Fest.
The Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish in Luling sponsors an Alligator Festival each September. Enjoy carnival rides, a 5K race, arts and crafts, a golf tournament, music, and of course, food, including alligator burgers, alligator sauce piquant, fried alligator, smoked alligator sausage, alligator tamales, and seafood alligator gumbo.
What is Louisiana cooking without Andouille sausage? October 2016 marks the 43rd annual Andouille Festival in LaPlace. Andouille is one of those uniquely Louisiana things I'd never heard of until I moved to Louisiana. And then it took me years to learn how to pronounce it -- "an doo ee". It's a smoked pork sausage that originated in France. Which is why it's hard to pronounce. It's a primary ingredient in many Creole and Cajun recipes such as gumbo and jambalaya.
Stay tuned! Tomorrow you'll read about beer and boudin!
Many of the festivals I feature will be found here in my hometown of Lake Charles, La. After all, with over 70 annual festivals, the Lake City is known as the festival capital of Louisiana! Plus, I love to tout the merits of southwest Louisiana.
A is for Art, Alligators, and Andouille Sausage!
The Arts and Crabs Festival takes place every summer here in Lake Charles. At this annual fundraiser for the Arts and Humanities Council, numerous local chefs and restaurants feature their best crab dishes while artists display their work. And no festival is complete without lively music. Find out more here.
This is a photo of one of my favorite watercolor artists in Lake Charles, Sue Zimmermann, taken at the 2011 Arts and Crabs Fest.
The Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish in Luling sponsors an Alligator Festival each September. Enjoy carnival rides, a 5K race, arts and crafts, a golf tournament, music, and of course, food, including alligator burgers, alligator sauce piquant, fried alligator, smoked alligator sausage, alligator tamales, and seafood alligator gumbo.
What is Louisiana cooking without Andouille sausage? October 2016 marks the 43rd annual Andouille Festival in LaPlace. Andouille is one of those uniquely Louisiana things I'd never heard of until I moved to Louisiana. And then it took me years to learn how to pronounce it -- "an doo ee". It's a smoked pork sausage that originated in France. Which is why it's hard to pronounce. It's a primary ingredient in many Creole and Cajun recipes such as gumbo and jambalaya.
Stay tuned! Tomorrow you'll read about beer and boudin!
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6 comments:
Angie, I didn't know you were doing the A to Z Challenge. Great! Whenever I want to research a festival for my characters to attend, I can just come to your blog! :)
BTW, I lived in Luling, LA for three years. My best writer friend--Barbara Colley, author of the Maid for Murder series, still lives there. Just talked to her today!
Fun theme! My SO is from Lake Charles, but I have never been there, and I would love to find out more :) Happy A to Z!
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
The Multicolored Diary
MopDog
Thanks for checking in Jess. Yes, I'm up to the "challenge" this year! Tarkabarka, come visit Louisiana some time!
Hooray for Arts and Crabs! What a great idea! I think I would have to pass on the alligator-based foods.
I moved from Massachusetts to Memphis in '89. Total culture shock! Wish we'd had the ability to blog then, but am glad you do, NOW. Looking forward to reading you.
Best wishes on the A to Z.
Daryl
www.darylconner.blogspot.com
Thank you, Daryl. I've never been to Memphis. But yes, I can imagine the shock! CHM, you'd be surprised. Alligator is good! You know, tastes like chicken.
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