Annual Boogie on the Bayou Event will be More Southern Than Ever

The good times, and an estimated 50,000-60,000 people, are about to roll into Historic Downtown Campbell for the ’s 33rd Annual festival.

Recently touted "Best Local Festival" by the Metro, the festival features live New Orleans-style music, authentic Cajun cuisine, more than 140 arts and crafts booths, and a daily parade to help bring awareness to the city and help local businesses out.

The festival has really come a long way over the years.

According to , executive of the Campbell Chamber of Commerce and organizer of the event, it “originally started as The Prune Fest [which] tied into Campbell’s old Orchard days and was done in support of the Prune Growers Association.

Then in 2003 a fateful decision was made by the Growers Association to rename prunes to ‘dried plums’, and The Prune Fest was no more. Boogie on the Bayou took it’s place and has been a hit ever since.

“This event is a mainstay, it’s very well known, we’ve received awards on it, it has a nice steady group and is well attended,” Collins says.

What does Collins say to look out for this year?

“The food,” he says.

A new lineup of restaurants straight out of Louisiana will be serving up long-needed Southern classics that were sorely missed at past festivals.

Crawdaddy and Custard Cajun Queen will be satisfying the festival’s need for crawfish and beignets; Louisiana Territory will be dishing up the classics like gumbo and jambalaya; and New Orleans Cookery will be back with their popular Alligator on a Stick.

Even Campbell Mayor can't wait. At the May 17 City Council meeting, he told everyone present, after making the announcement of the upcoming two-day event, that this is the first year beignets are making an appearance.

"Come early," he said.

In other words, get excited! You can now happily suck crawfish out of the shell or munch on a fluffy ball of fried dough slathered in powdered sugar while perusing the arts and crafts booths lining the streets of Historic Downtown. All while making tile art with the kids in this years’ Kiddy Korner or tapping your foot to the live twang of the festivals’ impressive lineup of Cajun, Creole, Zydeco, Blues, Jazz and Rockabilly bands that will be playing throughout. (Check out the lineup below).

There will be two parades each day (at 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm) complete with stilt walkers, a brass marching band playing tunes reminiscent of the French Quarter and people in masks throwing Mardi Gras beads at the crowd.

The owners of , who opened up on E. Campbell Avenue just last fall say they don’t know what to expect this weekend, but are making sure to staff up for the event.

“It’s like , we had no clue what was going to happen," says co-owner Collin Johnstone. "We just opened our doors! We’re all excited. Campbell is a great community. We’re always excited about all of the festivals. It’s great for the community and local businesses.”

One area where the festival continues to fall short is its lack of Southern beer on tap. Maybe next year ...

In the meantime, local pubs like seem to enjoy the extra business they receive during Boogie on the Bayou.

“We’re definitely busier!” says bartender Kristen H. of the attention the small Irish pub routinely receives during the weekend of the festival. Although there is alcohol served at the event, Katie Blooms is still usually pretty packed.

“It’s a fun weekend,” she says.

When it comes down to it, the point of the festival is not so much gritty down-on-the-bayou authenticity as it is a great excuse to throw a "Big Easy" style party to kick off the summer, so get out there and enjoy!

Saturday May 21, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Bayou Main Stage

11:00 a.m.-1:45 p.m. SAUCE PIQUANTE (CAJUN’)

2:15-5:30 p.m. KICKIN’ THE MULE (R AND B)

• Cajun East Stage

11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PLAYBACKS (ROCKABILLY)

1-3:00 p.m. CALIFORNIA REPERCUSSION (MARCHING BAND)

3:30-5:30 p.m. SWAMP VOODOO DELTA BLUES

Sunday, May 22, 10 a.m. -5 p.m.

• Bayou Main Stage

11:00 a.m.-1:45p.m. CREOLE BELLES CAJUN/CREOLE

2:15 -5:00 p.m. MOTORDUDE ZYDECO ZYDECO

• Cajun East Stage

11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. SB TRAD. JAZZ SOC. JAZZ

1-2:30 p.m. BUGHORN REX NEW O. STREET

3-5:00 p.m. FRED MCCARTY COUNTRY CAJUN