Rap, country music stars performing in Plaisance

    Thousands of music fans descend on the community of Plaisance this weekend for two concerts featuring nationally-renowned entertainers. Rap star and Grammy winner Ludacris headlines the Ultimate Jam Saturday and Chris Young leads the KXKC Big Country Bash Sunday at Zydeco Park. 

Ludacris

    Zydeco Park, located on Highway 167 seven miles north of exit 23 (Ville Platte exit) at I-49, has served as the home of the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival for the past 29 years. 

    Ludacris, a.k.a. Christopher Brian Bridges, is a Grammy-winning rapper and actor with roles in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Fast Five and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and an upcoming romantic comedy, New Year’s Eve. Opening acts at the Ultimate Jam include Lloyd, Bobby V, Trill Fam, J. Paul, Tucka, Mr. Magic, Charlie Boy and Kirko Bangz. 

Chris Young

    At Sunday’s Big Country Bash, Chris Young entertains with his four No. 1 country hits – Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song), The Man I Want to Be, Voices and Tomorrow. He’s joined by Easton Corbin, who hit No. 1 in 2009 with A Little More Country Than That and Roll with It in 2010. Other performers include national hitmakers Chris Cagle and Josh Thompson, along with Kaplan’s Jaryd Lane. 

    Concert tickets are $30, $40 the day of the show. Children 12 and younger are admitted free. More details are available at www.ultimatejamtickets.com and www.kxkc.com. 

    Other weekend events in St. Landry Parish include:  

• The Washington Garden Club presents the Fall Harvest Tour of Historic Homes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in Washington. The Nathaniel Offutt Home (circa 1840), Dr. Francis Lyman Brown Home (circa 1840), De la Morandiere (circa 1830) and Magnolia Ridge Plantation (circa 1860) are among the featured homes. (337) 826-7337. 
• Louisiana Main to Main: A Cultural Roadshow – Main Street Memories continues at various locations in downtown Eunice. Activities include a garage sale, farmers market and more. The Jean Lafitte Prairie Acadian Cultural Center, Cajun French Music Association Museum, Eunice Depot Museum and Nutcracker Museum will all be open. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com. 
• The 1st annual Beef Tongue Cookoff starts at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lakeview Park & Beach, three miles north of Eunice on Highway 31. Songwriter Drew Landry holds a CD release party during the Old Fashioned Barn Dance at 8 p.m. Saturday. (337) 457-2881, www.lvpark.com. 
• The 12th annual Tribute to Hank Williams is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Liberty Theater in downtown Eunice. Terry Huval, Hugh Harris, DL Menard and others perform songs by the country music legend. Tickets are $14 and all seats are reserved. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com .

     In other events, Gray R. Steckler’s oil and acrylic art exhibit continues through Dec. 30 at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St. Call (337) 948-2589 for details. For more information on all these events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow us on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish.