For two decades, the people of Hackberry and Cameron Parish have been working together to put on the Marshland Festival, which serves the dual purposes of showcasing Cajun heritage and raising funds for community groups throughout the parish.

This year’s event will be held Friday and Saturday at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

Curtis Fountain of the St. Peter’s Knights of Columbus said the event is vital to his organization.

“The money is used to buy stuff for church, insurance or whatever else the church needs to operate,” he said. “We have bought speaker systems, equipment for the kitchen in Catholic Hall and used it to pay for the kids group trips to Washington, New Orleans and other places for retreats. Most of the people from Hackberry participate in one function or another, whether it is helping to build the festival, taking up tickets or something else. As well we get help from people in Cameron, Johnson Bayou and all around the parish. We also have booth for the Johnson Bayou school and kids. They help us a lot.”

The Knights help set up for the festival and sell treats during the two days of fun.

“We have a food booth, build the booths and prepare the Civic Center for the festival,” Fountain said. “We sell hamburgers crawfish pistolettes, red beans and rice, funnel cakes and barbecue sandwiches.”

Fountain said everyone finds a way to have a good time between all the work.

“We love meeting people from Jeff Davis, Calcasieu, Beauregard (parishes) people from Texas, people that come from all over country, and sharing our Cajun heritage.”

Gates will open at 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Admission is $10 Friday and $12 Saturday. Kids 12 and under and active military are admitted free.

For more information on the festival, call 762-4466 or 540-3182.

Entertainment schedule

Friday

6 p.m. — Richard LeBeouf

7:30 p.m. — Barry Badon

9 p.m. — Keith Frank

10:30 p.m. — Bag of Donuts

Saturday

Noon — Mark Reeves

1:30 p.m. — Whiskey South

3 p.m. — Louisiana Express

4:30 p.m. — Steel Shot

6 p.m. — Horace Trahan

7:30 p.m. — Travis Matte

9 p.m. — Jamie Bergeron

10:30 p.m. — Sammy Kershaw

Festival-goers listen to the music of Keith Frank during the 2012 Marshland Festival at the Lake Charles Civic Center. (American Press Archives)