Teams compete for world championship in crawfish etoufee

    Treat your taste buds to samples from more than 40 teams competing in the 27th Annual World Championship Crawfish Etoufee Cook-off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 25 at the Northwest Pavilion, 651 Samuel Dr., in Eunice. The event includes Cajun music from Briggs Brown at 10 a.m., followed by Paul Daigle and Cajun Gold at 1 p.m. 

Paul Daigle

    Individual booths will cook and sell etouffee to the public. Visitors can also sample etoufee and vote for the winner of the People’s Choice Trophy. A variety of other food, arts and crafts, fun jumps and slides will be available. For more information, call (337) 457-7389. 

    In other weekend events in St. Landry Parish:

• The Lafayette Rhythm Devils perform for the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at the Liberty Theater in downtown Eunice. Mary Jane Broussard and the Sweet La La’s open the show. This world-renowned show features Cajun and Creole bands performing in a Grand Ole Opry-style format. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com. 
• The Cajun band Les Malfecteurs play the old-fashioned, fais-do-do barn dance at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 24 at Lakeview Park, 1717 Veteran Memorial Highway, in Eunice. (337) 457-2881, www.lvpark.com. 
• Casa Azul, 232 ML King Drive in Grand Coteau, will show the documentary, Howard Citizen – The Man and the Music He Loves, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 27. Directed by Sharon Donnan, the independent film profiles Citizen, one of many French Creoles who left southwest Louisiana during World War II and settled in Los Angeles. Citizen talks about the survival of his culture and the emergence of zydeco music. Free admission. (337) 662-1032. 
• French speakers, or those who would like to learn, can attend the La Table Francaise at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 28 at Le Vieux Village, 828 E. Landry St., in Opelousas. This monthly conversation in French takes place in the village’s school house. (337) 948-6263. 

    In upcoming events, zydeco/Cajun musician Horace Trahan performs for the Acadiana Runner’s Ball Victory for Veterans 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run at 5 p.m. March 31 at the Evangeline Downs Event Center. The event raises funds for the St. Landry Parish Veterans Memorial Park project. 

    The Eunice Symphony Orchestra presents its annual concert, “A Little Night Music” at 7:30 p.m. April 1 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. This all-classical show features pieces by Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and other composers. 

    The spring season of Music & Market kicks off with Les Malfecteurs at 5:30 p.m. April 13 at the Farmers Market Pavilion, 828 E. Landry St., in Opelousas. With free admission, Music and Market features live music and fresh produce for sale and sample every Friday through May 25. 

    For more information on parish events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Updates are available on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.