Robbie Dubois and Angie Savant dance to the sounds of the Twangsters Union at last year’s Marshland Festival at the Lake Charles Civic Center. (American Press)
Pass a good time at 23rd annual Marshland Festival
Last Modified: Sunday, July 29, 2012 8:32 PM
By Warren Arceneaux / American Press
A little more than two decades ago, a group of concerned parents in Hackberry were looking to raise funds for local school, community and church groups.
After forming the Marshland Festival Association, the group put on the first edition of the festival, which featured a dance and movie festival.
Over the next few years, the event grew to include more local activities such as a softball tournament, cook-offs and a fiddling competition. More and more musical acts started coming, and soon the festival outgrew Hackberry and moved to Lake Charles, becoming one of the biggest annual festivals in the area.
More than a dozen musical acts, ranging from zydeco to rock, will perform at this year’s 23rd edition of the festival.
The festival continues to support community groups, while also helping to preserve and promote Cajun culture and promoting tourism in Southwest Louisiana.
Among the groups that sponsor and benefit from the festival are the Hackberry Athletics Organization, Hackberry Youth Organization, Hackberry FFA & Rodeo, Youth Rodeo Club, Hackberry FBLA, High School Dance, High School Cheerleaders, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Catholic Youth Group, Catholic Daughters and Knights of Columbus.
The festival will feature exhibits, games, arts and crafts and food booths in addition to the live entertainment.
The festival will be held Friday and Saturday at the Lake Charles Civic Center.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Friday, with live entertainment starting at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the festival opens at 11 a.m. and entertainment starts at noon.
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