Festivals Happening This Weekend: June 8 through June 11

Enjoy BBQ, Creole Tomatoes, Crab, and Zydeco at festivals around Louisiana this weekend.

Creole TomatoesPhoto byM Henderson

St. Landry BBQ Festival - Opelousas - June 9, 10, 11

1939 West Landry Street

The Yambilee Grounds and Ag Arena in Opelousas is the setting for the 2nd annual St. Landry Parish BBQ Festival. Live music, a petting zoo, carnival rides, arts & crafts, food vendors, a BBQ cook-off, and a fireworks display will delight visitors during the 3-day festival.

This year's music lineup includes:

Friday, June 9:

6:00 PM - C.J. Vedell & the Zydeco Grapplers
8:00 PM - Leon Chavis & the Zydeco Flames
10:30 PM - Chee Weez

Saturday, June 10:

10:30 AM - Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express
12:30 PM - Kevin Naquin & The Cajun Preservation
3:00 PM - Alex Touchet
5:30 PM - Hotline
8:00 PM - Rusty Metoyer & Zydeco Krush
10:30 PM - Keith Frank and The Soileau Zydeco Band

Sunday, June 11:

10:30 AM - Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners
1:00 PM - Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
3:30 PM - Lil' Nathan & The Zydeco Big Timers

The BBQ cook-off will happen on Sunday, June 11, and will include beef, chicken, pork, and everything else categories.

Creole Tomato Festival - New Orleans French Quarter - June 10 & 11

1100 N. Peters Street

The 37th annual Creole Tomato Festival will happen in the French Quarter on Saturday and Sunday, June 10th and 11th. Live music on three stages will feature fan favorites including Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Sunpie & the Louisiana Hotspots, Bo Dollis, Jr. & the Wild Magnolias, and Lost Bayou Ramblers. Creole tomatoes and festival merchandise will be for sale. There will be Creole tomato food booths and activities for the entire family at this free festival.

Holly Beach Crab Festival - Cameron - June 9, 10, 11

2412 Heron Street

Located along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, the Holly Beach Crab Festival is a relaxing opportunity for families to soak up the sun at one of Louisiana's most popular Gulf beaches. Highlights include kids' games, crab racing, crab bingo, a crab dish cookoff, food vendors, snow cone vendors, music, a Friday meet & greet, and a Sunday pancake brunch. Live bands include Jamie Bergeron & the Kickin' Cajuns, Dustin Ray, and Lucas Meaux & Cajun Beat. DJ Troy will be busy playing tunes all three days of the festival.

Admission and parking are free.

NOLA Zydeco Fest - New Orleans - June 10

2600 LaSalle Street

Lil' Nathan & The Zydeco Big Timers, Alphonse Ardoin & The Zydeco Kings, Rusty Metoyer & The Zydeco Crush, and Koray Broussard & The Zydeco Unit will appear on the Main Stage of the 3rd Annual NOLA Zydeco Fest. A.L. Davis Park is the setting for the event which runs from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Saturday, June 10.

Showcasing the music and flavors of Louisiana's Zydeco culture, this year's fest features Zydeco dance lessons plus brass bands, second liners, and the Baby Dolls. Chairs and blankets for sitting are welcome. Tickets are free until June 8 at nolazydecofest.com. General admission at the gate is $10.