One big thing: Boudin Cookoff
When? Saturday, Oct. 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Parc Sans Souci, 201 E. Vermilion St.
Cost: Free to attend. Tickets for sampling available for purchase.
What’s the big deal? Boudin takes center stage at the annual Boudin Cook-off. Head to Parc Sans Souci this weekend to see who has the best boudin in town. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Downtown park at 201 E. Vermilion St. For $5, patrons can get eight tickets for sampling boudin as well as a People’s Choice ballot and drinks. The event also includes fun for the family, music, eating contests and a Cajun Microwave pig roast. Mais la! The last time I went to this cook-off, I got the meat sweats and slept so good that night. I dreamt about boudin. If you don’t know what boudin is, then go to this festival, but basically it’s dirty rice with pork in a sausage casing. The best kind isn’t too spicy or mild, but right in between. There are also boudin balls, which are deep-fried, crunchy and sometimes filled with pepper jack cheese. In short: I’m jealous of everyone who goes to this cook-off.
Check out a full schedule and get more information on the Boudin Cook-off here.
What else is going on during dat dere boudin fest? This year’s cook-off also includes boudin and boudin ball eating contests, free ice cream sandwiches, face painting, a bake sale and music from Alligator Blue, The Specklers and The Babineaux Sisters. Even the folks from “Bayou Benny’s Liberal Lagniappe” would come to this here cook-off. As long as there are no biscuits!
Also coming up
THURSDAY: A famous headless horseman makes an appearance in Lafayette when Virginia Rep on Tour brings “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” to the Acadiana Center for the Arts stage. The spooky, but family-friendly musical play starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Downtown venue at 101 W. Vermilion St. $10. Get more information here.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY: College actors tackle the Bard. UL Lafayette’s School of Music and Performing Arts presents one of Shakespeare’s comedies this weekend. Performances of “As You Like It” start at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Burke-Hawthorne Hall, 231 Hebrard Blvd. $10. Get more information here.
SATURDAY: Brunch, it’s like lunch, but better because it also includes breakfast. What a concept. Get a taste of what Downtown Lafayette serves for the most bougie of weekly celebrations during the Fall Brunch Crawl. Registration starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rock ’N’ Bowl, 905 Jefferson St. Patrons ages 21 and up can then stroll along Jefferson Street to enjoy food and cocktails from participating restaurants. $20. Get more information here.
SATURDAY: Celebrate Halloween at Vermilionville at the Boo Bayou Fall Festival. The festival starts at 10 a.m. Saturday at the venue at 300 Fisher Road. Kids can come in their costumes and enjoy face painting, balloon animals, a cooking school and many more tricks and treats. $5 for ages 2 and older. Get more information here.
SATURDAY: Travel back in time to more innocent days when “grease” was the word, and John Travolta wasn’t slumming it in movies like this. Southern Screen and Bayou Round Up host a drive-in screening of Grease at 5 p.m. Saturday at Blackham Coliseum. $20 per car. $5 walk-up fee. Leather jackets OK. Please, no summer lovin’. Get more information here.