PLAQUEMINES PARISH, La. — Festival season is in full swing in Southeast Louisiana and this weekend was no exception down in Belle Chasse. Plaquemines Parish held their Seafood Festival, which has been going on for 20 years and has grown over the past two decades.
"We started out a little small and grew from there," Catherine Blondiau, the festival's pageant organizer said. "We’ve expanded food vendors and have more food vendors and incorporated food trucks. We have more craft vendors than ever we added a kid's tent which is free for the children."
The list of seafood enjoyed at the festival is never-ending, with vendors serving everything from raw and chargrilled oysters to crawfish beignets and alligator you can find all the Louisiana classics.
The food is a highlight for many, including the seafood festival queens.
"My favorite part is definitely trying all the food. We have so many different things we have oysters, boiled crawfish, boiled shrimp, fried fish," Juliana Guajardo, Seafood Festival Queen said. "I think eating is my specialty."
Plus, what's a Louisiana festival without music and dancing?
Live bands were getting people on the dance floor to bust a move. The festival is also family-friendly with carnival rides and a kid's tent. Plus, the festival is used as a way to give back to the community.
"The Boy Scouts who work for us they get to take a portion of the proceeds that we make, and they get to use that for their trip that they go on and any of the little things throughout the year. we’re able to get the money back to the rotary they do so much great stuff they offer scholarships to seniors high school," Catherine Blondiau, an organizer with the festival said. "Being able to offer that place for them to raise money for us to give them money to do those things that are really special to us."
Not only is it a way to give money back to the community, but it also serves as a way to support the local seafood industry, which has taken hit after hit between the BP oil spill, hurricanes, the pandemic, and more.
Vendors say it's been difficult, but events like these help.
"It is a bit of a struggle but I hope we can withstand the harsh times and move forward and everyone loves oysters who don’t so hopefully we can have a comeback," Anita Cognevich, Vice President of the Croatian American Society said.
"We prefer local but of course, the prices have gone up the price of everything has gone up the struggle has been trying to stay with a balance with what can you afford and what can I afford and meet halfway," Hester Rito, owner of Any O'Cajun Catering and Events said.
Festival organizers say vendors use all local seafood. So if you're looking for a place to eat some good food, support your community, or have some fun the Plaquemines Parish Seafood Festival is the perfect place for you.
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