Wrestling event, breakfast among new additions to festival
A professional wrestling event, pancake breakfast and yoga and workout session in Lawrence Park are the new additions to the 83rd Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival this Labor Day weekend.
The festival will kick off Thursday and continue through Monday. This year’s festival will include three new events. Royal Shrimp Rumble presented by Gulf State Wrestling is from 2:15-4 p.m. Saturday in Lawrence Park. Pancakes in the Park presented by Morgan City Rotary Club is Sunday in Lawrence Park. Royal Shrimp Rumble features Mustang Mike, Jason Streets, The Cajun Outlaws, StoneMan, David Silver and Mad Dog Gil.
Pickup for the breakfast of pancakes, sausage, milk and coffee will be from 8 a.m.-noon Sunday and dining from 9:30 a.m.-noon in the park. If there’s inclement weather, the breakfast will be at St. Joseph Hall, 318 Third St. Advanced tickets are available for $7 each at the festival office, 715 Second St.
Also, from 8-9 a.m. Monday, Case Sports Performance and Free to Be Power Yoga will hold a community workout session in the park, Festival Executive Director Darby Ratcliff said.
Gospel music will be on the main stage from noon-2:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in Lawrence Park this year and not at the M.D. Shannon building as it had been in prior years, Ratcliff said. Frito-Lay will have representatives in the park Friday night through Sunday giving samples of the new Lay’s flavor, Cajun Spice.
The car show that was scheduled for Saturday has been canceled, Ratcliff said.
Festival parking is available along Front Street, Railroad Avenue and Federal Avenue. No traffic will be allowed during the festival on Greenwood Street from Front Street to Federal Avenue, Front Street between Greenwood Street and Brashear Avenue, and Second Street and Third Street from Brashear Avenue to Freret Street.
Traffic will be one-way around Lawrence Park. Carnival rides start at 5 p.m. Thursday under the U.S. 90 bridge. Pay-one-price ride bracelets are available for $25 Thursday and Monday.
No motor homes or camping trailers are allowed in or around the park. No ice chests, glass, tents, barbecue pits, pets, golf carts or four-wheelers are allowed on festival grounds. No motorcycles or vehicles may be parked on or beyond public sidewalks.
Live music begins at 6 p.m. Friday in Lawrence Park and lasts through Monday.
The Cajun Culinary Classic will open at 5 p.m. Friday and continue through 7:30 p.m. Monday. Local non-profit groups and civic organizations benefit from the proceeds.
The 41st Arts & Crafts Show & Sale will open at 5 p.m. Friday under the U.S. 90 bridge and continue through 9 p.m. Monday.
Children’s Day activities at the park will begin with children’s field and game events at 9 a.m. Saturday. A Children’s Day Mini Street Parade will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday in the area of Lawrence Park. The Children’s Village will open at 1 p.m. Saturday and continue through Sunday.
On Sunday, Mass in Lawrence Park will be at 8:30 a.m. In the event of inclement weather, Mass will move to Holy Cross Catholic Church.
The Blessing of the Fleet will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday on the Atchafalaya River from the Berwick docks and is followed by the water parade. A Street Parade will start at 3 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Second and Onstead streets in Morgan City.
Other events at the festival include Artist Guild Unlimited 55th Annual Show & Sale at Everett Street Gallery and Diving & ROV Historical Preservation Museum rig tours.
For more information, visit shrimpandpetroleum.org.