Ten musical acts will be part of the celebration next week as the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish presents the 43rd annual Alligator Festival at the West Bank Bridge Park in Luling.
The event will be held Sept. 26-29, opening next Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. The festival will also be open Friday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission prices are $5 for adults and free for children 10 years and under, except for Thursday, when admission is free for all.
After a stressful series of days for many, festival planners are hoping the event provides a lift for the area’s residents.
“Our hearts go out to community as they’re dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Francine … we’re excited to fill the bridge park, that was filled with sandbags and energy trucks, with rides and a fun time for all that brings the community together,” said Kelsey Pollock, Alligator Festival marketing director.
St. Charles Parish native Will Dempsey will kick off the festival music as he headlines Thursday night. Thomas Cain headlines Friday night (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), The Chee-Weez headline Saturday (8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.) and the weekend concludes with Sunday night headliner Bag of Donuts (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.).
“We’re very excited about all of our (musical acts) at the festival this year,” said Pollock. “Closing out with Bag of Donuts – they’re always a big draw, very popular, they’re a great way to end the weekend.”
Yeah You Right, the St. Charles UMC Band, Tommy G & Stormy Weather, Dwayne Dopsie, The Mojoes and Ryan Foret & Foret Tradition will each perform as well throughout the weekend. Times for each can be found on the Alligator Festival’s website.
The event begins with free admission on Thursday for all. Pollock said that opening night represents a chance for families to get out ahead of the bigger crowds of the weekend days and nights. There will also be discounted prices on “all you can ride” passes on Thursday – $20, versus $25 for each slot the rest of the weekend. Saturday bands are offered in two different timeframes, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. All-weekend ‘Megabands’ will be sold at a cost of $70 per band.
A new addition to the festivities this year will come in the form of food trucks – there will be five of those in addition to the 20 traditional food vendors on hand.
The tasty dishes include more than 10 different ways to try alligator, including some of the event’s signature items like alligator burgers and egg rolls.
There will be more than 80 craft booths, offering a wide range of products like coffee, gemstones, spices, essential oils, knives, fudge, clothing and much more.
New merchandise items include bucket hats, cooling towels and tote bags.
Of course, what sets the Alligator Festival apart most is its namesake – the alligators themselves.
The festival’s live alligator exhibit allows visitors to get up close and personal with the reptiles, while expert handlers from Kliebert & Sons Gator Tours will be on hand to answer any questions.
“I think the uniqueness of being able to experience the alligators in that exhibit is a big reason this has been so popular over the years,” said Pollock, who notes hopes are to once again draw more than 20,000 people.
The Alligator Festival is the local Rotary Club’s primary fundraiser, operated since 1980 to raise funds for private St. Charles Parish scholarships. As a result of funds raised from the Alligator Festival over the last four decades, the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish is now considered the largest private scholarship provider in the parish, with over $1 million in scholarships having been awarded to local youth.
“We’re so very proud of the support everyone gave, even during years cancelled for COVID and Ida, that we’ve still been able to fully fund our scholarships,” Pollock said.
The Alligator Festival has provided official parking on the Judge Edward Dufrene Parkway shoulder, at the St. Charles Parish School Board central office parking lots, the R.K. Smith Middle School parking lots and the St. Charles Parish Satellite Center parking lots. Handicapped and vendor parking is available at the West Bank levee trailhead.
A shuttle service from the designated parking lots to the side gate of the festival grounds will be provided on Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
