Cracklin' Festival
Port Barre, LA
November 9-12, 2006

It might not seem so to many people, but to me, the idea of chunky pieces of pig fat boiled in hot oil with spicy seasoning sounds downright yummy. Cracklins are best served hot, right out of the pot, and that's exactly what you'll find at the annual Cracklin' Festival in Port Barre, LA.

A straightforward festival with an appropriate Louisiana theme are the makings of the Cracklin' Festival. Port Barre, located about five miles east of Opelousas, LA, is best known as the "Birthplace of Bayou Teche". Bayou Teche springs from a brief confluence of Bayous Coutableau and Wauksha and runs all the way south eventually joining up with the Atchafalaya River flowing into the Gulf of Mexico.

Squeezed into the confines of Veterans Memorial Park, spectators can ride one of the 20 or so carnival rides or peruse the craft booths. But the main enjoyment for me is to listen to the live music while munching on my bag of cracklins.

As you wander the festival site, the smell of cracklin' cooking wafts through the air. It's especially amusing to look at all the people walking around with their little cracklin'-filled brown paper bags, tinged with grease on the bottom.

On Saturday, there are half a dozen different booths selling cracklins, but on Sunday, the day of the cookoff and judging, this number swells to 15 different booths. Other food booths offer red beans and rice, jambalaya, gumbo and etouffee.

Live music is continuous all weekend with a lineup that features great local bands - emphasizing Cajun, Swamp Pop and 50s & 60s music. This year, Damon Troy and Louisiana Beat, and Little Kenny and the Heartbreakers will do the honors.

Other activities include a parade on Saturday morning and the Cracklin' Queen Pageant Saturday evening. In addition to the cracklin' judging, the actual booths are decorated and judged, which makes for a festive scene.

2006 dates: November 9-12

Directions: From Baton Rouge, LA take U.S. 190 west for about 40 miles. As you enter the town limits in Port Barre, turn onto LA 103 north for 1/2 mile. This will take you directly into the festival.

For more information, call 337-585-6673.

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Story © Julie Posner