Bernard Parish, Louisiana which is rich with heritage, moss covered oak trees, creole tomatoes, Louisiana Bayous, shrimp boats, oyster luggers, oil refineries, and is a fisherman’s haven. Bernard Parish is the home of the Battle of New Orleans site over-looking the mighty Mississippi River adjoining the Crescent City, New Orleans. Bernard flourishes predominately through diversity its roots of ancestry dominate the culture engulfed with Festivals, Arts, Crafts and merriment. The festival originated in 1975 and has grown to become a Louisiana tradition. Patrons frequent the festival, annually, from all areas of the United States. They arrive by auto, air, bus and train to come in for the spring event that features authentic Cajun cuisine. Boiled Crawfish with all the “fixins” & Crawfish Dishes such as Crawfish Bread, Crawfish Pasta, Crawfish Pies, Crawfish Rice, and Crawfish Jambalaya adorn the limelight while many other food booths tickle just about everyone’s pallet. Cajun entertainment and current hit parade bands explode on stage to draw crowds to the sounds and glitter of showmanship. The entertainment committee assures that everyone attending will at some point enjoy the performances. Thursdays and Fridays entice the listeners to prepare for the weekend filled musical finale on Sunday night. Cups, plates, belts, straw hats, sun glasses, tennis visors, personalized home crafts, license plates and key chains are just a few of the treasured values offered. There’s always a giant midway with carnival games, cotton candy, candied apples and rides to thrill the toddler through the roughneck and even the Ferris wheel for Maw Maw and Paw Paw. The awesome clinking on the tracks, the air brakes, the laughter amid the flashing lights with noisy horns and squealing sirens draw thousands to conquer their inhibitions. The weekend of festivities boasts proudly of its ability to reunite families, attract family reunions, spark new relationships and spread joy throughout the entire atmosphere. Balloons, toy animals, tee shirts, aprons, ball caps, and other memorabilia flood the festival with mementos to remind us that the next crawfish festival is in the horizon. For more information go to the St. Bernard Tourism website:www.VisitStBernard.com.
