Billed as the “oldest and coldest” in Southwest Louisiana, the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival will deliver cooler temperatures this year, forecast for the mid-40s, compared to last year’s temps in the low 60s.

However, the coolest thing about the festival is not that it’s a brrr-winter festival that began in 1955. The coolest thing about the festival is the celebration of outdoor traditions. It’s family-friendly with something for everyone. It could offer visitors something they have never seen, smelled or heard before, such as a nutria being skinned out quick as a wink, the smell of fresh-shelled oyster and the sound of what makes Zydeco music, Zydeco music. Is it the washboard, the accordion or both?

“My favorite thing about the festival is what it stands for,” said festival president Telesha Bertrand. “The tradition began to promote our coastal heritage and the different industries that have enabled Cameron to thrive, as well as celebrate our claim to fame as a true Sportsman’s Paradise, where all who attend are exposed to true southern hospitality.”

Bertrand said seeing how happy the festival makes those who attend, and the hard work by the board and its committee chairs is what has kept the festival going for so long, making it the state’s oldest.

Here’s what is planned:

Today: Little Miss and Mister Cameron Parish and Miss Cameron Parish Royalty will be named at the South Cameron High School, 753 Oak Grove Highway, Grand Chenier (Creole). Admission is $5. Children 12 and younger admitted free.

Friday: Gates open, the carnival begins and craft and food booths open at 122 Recreation Center Drive in Cameron. Musician Conner Haynie goes on stage at 6 p.m. Aaron Istre with Under the Influence is up at 7:15 p.m. Gates close at 10 p.m. Admission is $5 or $15 for a weekend pass. Children 12 and younger admitted free.

Saturday: Gates open at 5:30 a.m. for gumbo cook-off folks only. The Fur Festival 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk late registration is at 7 a.m. Races begin at 8 a.m.

Gates open for the carnival, craft and food booths at 9 a.m. Trap shooting competition and quail flush competition begins at 9 a.m. Kids 11 and younger register for Kids Master Oyster Race in the stage area at 9:30 a.m. The race is at 10 a.m.

“The children will not be shucking oysters,” Bertrand said. “They will be dressed in oystering gloves and boots. Then they’ll race to a makeshift boat with a basket in hand and transfer as many oysters as they can from boat to their basket.”

Oyster shucking, nutria skinning and trap-setting competitors need to register at 10:30 a.m. at the stage area. The duck and goose callers will register at 10:30 at the multi-purpose fairground building.

Watch oyster shucking, nutria skinning and trap setting at 11 a.m.

The gumbo will be judged at 11 a.m. The public can taste it at 11:45 a.m. Awards will be presented at 2:30 p.m.

The road shuts down for a parade lineup at 1 p.m. and begins at 1:30 p.m.

Entertainment for 3 p.m., 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. are Chubby Carrier, Festival Royalty/Maryland Delegation/Festival Officials, Steel Shot and Three Thirty-Seven.

Gates close at 10:30 p.m. Admission is $10 per person. Children 12 and younger admitted free.

Some funds are reinvested, Bertrand said. Others help nonprofit and educational organizations, including a scholarship program for Cameron Parish High School seniors.