Beautiful weather and tons of events going on across Acadiana, one of the biggest rivalries though was UL Homecoming verses Festivals Acadians et Creoles.

You couldn't tell that the festival was competing at all for attendance against UL. Thousands packed into Girard Park ready to listen to the sounds and kick up a little dust.


"Dance like nobody is looking. You're going to suck up some dust believe me," said Clyde Stansbury.

The field at Girard Park is turned into a dusty dance floor and dozens kicked off their shoes as they jammed to their favorite bands.

"We used to wear the masks and then they started putting some water on the dust. all we made was mud, but Cajuns dance in mud too. It doesn't matter!" said Stansbury.

Over the years, this festival has undergone some major changes including more vendors, bigger crowds, and that's not all.

"More artists that come, different bands. I can remember that there was one or two bands and just one stage," said Dolores Provost, a life-time festival goer.

For some festival goers, the house was divided on whether or not to attend or go to the UL game.

"We ended up staying all the way up until halftime and then we had to take off and come over here because this is the love of our life. this is our culture and we love it," said Stansbury.

This is the first year that Festivals Acadians et Creoles has set up a sports bar so festival goers wouldn't have to choose between coming out to enjoy the festivities and watching their favorite teams play.

"This is the greatest thing that Lafayette has ever done in a long time. free sports, free fun how can you turn it down?!?" said Travis Conques.

Several sports fans were keeping tabs on the Cajuns while soaking up the festival.

Festivities wrap up Sunday.

Chris Welty
cwelty@katctv.com

 


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