By Lorenzo Salinas

l.v.salinas@panews.com

 

The sights, sounds and delicious aromas of Cajun living kicked off a rainy and overcast afternoon in Port Arthur. However, the murky weather could not stop people from enjoying all the festival had to offer — including live music, good food and some serious artwork.

The Texas Commission on the Arts hosted the 4^th annual Cajun Heritage Fest Saturday at the Carl A. Parker Center at Lamar State. Notable acts like Wayne Toups & Royal BluGarou and Jamie Bergeron & the Kickin’ Cajuns headlined the local event while other acts like Travis Matte & the Kingpins continued providing authentic Zydeco music for those in attendance.

“People were waiting to go inside the center,” Darragh Castillo with Port Arthur Visitor’s Bureau said. “They were so excited to be here.”

Near the main stage with musicians getting ready to perform, Gloria Roy of Cajun Sounds Internet Radio and the vice president of Southeast Texas Arts Council (SETXAC) was setting up her own area to MC the event.

Roy said one of her favorite draws of the Cajun Fest was the dancing, including the traditional Cajun Waltz and Two-Step.

“We’re the western side of Louisiana and the Cajun heritage,” Roy said with a smile. “We’re here to keep the heritage vital in the way we celebrate.”

Victor Higginbotham, a local artist and board member for SETXAC, had his own table set up not too far away with the rest of the artists.

“I like it. It gives me a chance to show off my work,” he said.

Higginbotham’s work included bright, patchwork alligator creations that stood on the table in their colorful hides.

“I’m a kid of the 60s. A lot of the pop art then was influential to my work now,” Higginbotham said of his color choices.

Not all were ready to browse the art just yet, as Dexter Broussard, a local theatre professional, joked he was not going to stay on a diet with all the excellent cuisine surrounding him.

“The food definitely appeals to me — and this is the kind of music I enjoyed when I was growing up,” he said.

Remarking on the live music, sound crew personnel John Freyermuth and Laura Edwards were excited to have the caliber of musicians they had for the day.

“We have amazing acts here… This helps develop and promote the rich heritage of Cajun culture we have here,” Freyermuth said. “It’s cool to have both old and new (fans) be able to draw a sense of community.”

Like others, Edwards said the food was a big draw for her.

Albert Faggard, local artist and board member for SETXAC, would have seemed to agree.

“It’s definitely the Cajun food, dance and music,” Faggard said of the draw to Cajun Fest. “When you compare Southeast Texas to Southwest Louisiana, you basically can’t tell the difference between the two.”

Faggard specializes in wildlife paintings, some of which were on display for sale. His work reflected a sample of both the Texan and Louisianan nature around him.

“I love the outdoors; I was raised in the outdoors,” he said.

Tom Neal, director of the Museum of the Gulf Coast, commended the festival for all it did to promote local culture.

“It’s a remarkable celebration of culture and heritage,” Neal said. “The history, the culture… It’s all a blend of Texas, Cajun and Louisiana. It makes for a wonderful mix of heritage.”

Neal extended his commentary on culture when he said, “The very way we live and find ways to enjoy ourselves transcend to developing our culture and way of life.”

As so many attendees seemed to agree, one couldn’t beat the food offered at the festival — including Neal himself.

“The eating doesn’t get much better than this. You have Southeast Texan, Mexican, Cajun… you got it all,” Neal said.

The Southeast Texas Arts Council and Cajun Sounds Internet Radio hosted the Crawfish Eating Contest that day.