Campbell loves Its Boogie on the Bayou

Those in search of the live Cajun music and Southern food characteristic of past festivals were not disappointed at this years’ 33rd Annual Boogie on the Bayou event.

The smells of gumbo, pulled pork, fried catfish and roasting oysters wafted through the crowds, luring people to the food booths. The clear favorite continues to be Alligator on a Stick.

“Everybody likes the alligator!” said festival-goer Michelle Brewster, who has gone to 10 years' of festivals for the great selection of Southern foods. “I try something different each time. It’s all good.”

Robert St. Thomas, the owner of New Orleans Cookery and man behind the Alligator on a Stick, says he likes Campbell’s yearly festival.

“Campbell is like a clean, pretty French Quarter,” he says.

Others were not as impressed with the Cajun authenticity the festival was aiming for.

“Besides the Alligator shish kabob and the cute lemonade stand, nothing made me feel like I was in the Bayou,” said high school student Madalyn H. of San Jose. “I wish there had been more Southern things for sale.”

Doug Collinge, 67, and his girlfriend, Dorothy Clemer, have attended the festival for more than two decades now, and for them, it's the music that attracts.

“We really like all this kind of music. We don’t have any favorite [bands], we just like ‘em all! We try not to miss it,” he says.

The musicians who play the event love it as much as the people who show up to watch and swing dance.

Eva Wellington has played the tenor saxophone for the past decade of Boogie on the Bayou parades with her group, California Repercussions, and she plans to keep it up.

“[Boogie on the Bayou] has a very enthusiastic audience that we enjoy," she says. "We have group members that come all the way out from Sacramento to do this.” 

Stand-in saxophone player for "Kickin’ the Mule," Nancy Wright, said she has similar sentiments and would "love" to return for next year’s event.

Event-goer Terence L. of Campbell sums up why it is worth going.

“It’s fun. And it’s giving back to the community and supporting local businesses.”