Cypress Sawmill Festival coming back in 2018

Officials announced Saturday plans to bring the Cypress Sawmill Festival back to Kemper Williams Park near Patterson April 6-8, 2018.

After holding the festival in each of 25 years from 1991 to 2016, organizers canceled the 2017 festival, citing bad weather the previous years and a lack of revenues and volunteers. But they left open the possibility of bringing back the sawmill festival.

Committee members are still making preparations to hold the festival in 2018. But the committee determined that there was enough support from the community to bring it back, said Jeff LaGrange, festival committee chairman.

LaGrange plans to send out a news release soon with more details on the 2018 festival.

Proceeds from the festival support Louisiana State Museum-Patterson, home of the Cypress Sawmill and Wedell-Williams Memorial Aviation exhibits.

The inaugural Cypress Sawmill Festival was held in 1991 after organizers began planning for it in 1990.

Carnival rides and a softball tournament have always been fixtures at the festival. Other events held over the years included a car show, poker run and fun walk.

Organizers later added an All-American Lumberjack Show and KQKI’s Country Showdown.

Festival founder David Bourdier said the three-day event also benefits Kemper Williams Park and all of St. Mary Parish through the money spent by visitors at the festival.

Volunteers and monetary donations are always helpful to try to keep the festival going for years to come, Bourdier said.