Rotary Club rolls out the red carpet for ‘King of the Swamp’

After 1-yr. layoff, Alligator Festival is BACK

The St. Charles Parish Rotary Club is excited to get things under way for the 27th Annual Alligator Festival, scheduled to start Thurs., Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. The festival, which is the Rotary Club’s main fundraiser, will feature an array of food vendors serving delicious alligator delicacies along with savory Cajun specialties, and booths highlighting local merchants and their creative crafts.

Seven popular bands will perform on the entertainment stage throughout the weekend thanks to stage sponsor, St. Charles Parish Hospital.

Day three of the festival will open with a poker run starting at Sailfish on Hwy. 90 in Luling, and a cheer and dance competition at 11 a.m. on the main stage.

Cancelled last year due to Hurricane Katrina, the festival was greatly missed and rotary members have been working extra hard to once again celebrate the ‘King of the Swamp.’

“After the hurricane and after people started to return home, all anyone wanted was to get back to normal, and without the annual Alligator Festival it definitely felt like something was missing,” said Luling resident Amanda Breaux.

Other residents, like Diana Laing of Des Allemands, are glad that the hurricane did not put a permanent strain on the festivities. Laing is looking forward to attending this year’s event with friends and family.

“My favorite part of the festival is the chance to get together with good friends, listen to good music and enjoy some good food,” said Laing.

The Alligator Festival, which originated as a small gathering in the Willowdale Country Club parking lot 27 years ago, attracts people from all over the region, and the proceeds now fund 10 college scholarships each year for students from Hahnville and Destrehan High Schools.

Amusement rides and games will be provided by Lowery for the children and for those of us who are still young at heart, and as always, admission and parking is free.

For more information on this year’s Alligator Festival, visit the rotary’s web site at www.stcharlesrotary.com

Questions? Comments? Email Heather R. Breaux at heatherb@heraldguide.com.

 

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