Louisiana Catfish Festival
Des Allemands, LA
July 10-12, 2009

German immigrants contributed a great deal to Louisiana culture in the decades after settling upriver from New Orleans in 1721. Many say that sausage wouldn’t be such a large part of south Louisiana cuisine had the Germans not brought it here; certainly, the accordion wouldn’t be the signature instrument of Cajun music as it has been for generations.

Des Allemands, LA wouldn’t exist had it not been for German immigrants. The name itself is French for “of the Germans”, as this is where the first group of German immigrants to arrive in Louisiana settled three centuries ago. And we wouldn’t have the pleasure, each July, of heading to Des Allemands – once proclaimed “Catfish Capital of the Universe” by a Louisiana legislature – for the Louisiana Catfish Festival.

Many in Des Allemands depend on fishing for their livelihood, and catfish is king of the local fishing industry. Food vendors at the Catfish Fest do their best to pay tribute. Fest-goers sample from a wide variety of catfish dishes, including catfish platters, catfish boats, catfish po-boys and catfish sauce piquante.

The festival gets started at 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday, lasting well into the night each day. Activities include pay-one-price rides, games, 1-mile and 5K road races and a catfish-eating contest. There’s also a country store, crafts booths and a plant booth. You should also be ready to dance, as live music is provided throughout the festival by some of south Louisiana’s favorite musicians.

2009 dates: July 10-12 (2010 dates: July 9-11)

Admission: Free.

Directions: The festival is held on the grounds of St. Gertrude Catholic Church in Des Allemands. From New Orleans, take I-10 W to I-310. Head south on I-310 for about 12 miles. Exit to the right on Hwy. 90 W to Houma. Continue on Hwy. 90 W through Paradis to Des Allemands. Upon reaching Des Allemands, St. Gertrude Catholic Church will be on the right side of LA 631 in the Des Allemands Business District.

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