Washington abuzz with activities this weekend

    Thousands are headed to Washington this weekend as the town is buzzing with three big events. The 13^th Annual Catfish Festival begins Thursday, April 19 and continues through Sunday, April 22. Fans of flowers gather Saturday for the Greaux Green Garden Affair. The 2^nd Annual  Artmania is set for this weekend at the Old Schoolhouse Antique Mall.

Old Schoolhouse Antique Mall

    Grammy winner Chubby Carrier, Geno Delafose, Keith Frank, Steve Riley, Krossfyre, Lil Kenny and the Heartbreakers and Richard LeBeouf are among the zydeco, Cajun and R&B bands performing at the Catfish Festival. The fest also includes carnival rides, a catfish cook-off and cultural presentations. For a full schedule of events, visit www.townofwashingtonla.org.

    Gardening, tree grafting and flower arranging experts will be the featured speakers at the Washington Garden Club’s Greaux Green event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 21 at the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church, 308 N. Church St. The free event also includes exhibits and activities on butterflies, bees, birding, conservation, herbs and more.

    Admission is free for Artmania April 21-22 at the Old Schoolhouse Antique Mall. Artists from across the country will sell and demonstrate works in metal, glass, pottery, wood, fabric, painting and photography. For more information, call (337) 277-2820.

    In other parish events:

D. L. Menard

• Enjoy the zydeCajun sounds of Dustin Ray and Southern Groove at Music & Market at 6 p.m. Friday, April 20 at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion, near exit 19B, in Opelousas. Mustard greens, this week’s featured vegetable, will be available for sale and samples. Admission is free. (337) 948-5227, www.cityofopelousas.com.
• Games, contests, exhibits and Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers are part of Community Day 2012 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21 on the LSUE campus in Eunice. Campus departments and student organizations host educational exhibits and activities. (337) 550-1395.
• Birthday celebrations for Cajun music legends D. L. Menard and Vin Bruce highlight the Rendezvous des Cajuns radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 21 the Liberty Theater in downtown Eunice. The Jambalaya Cajun Band backs the honorees. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com.
• Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie entertain at the Cankton Wagon Festival at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in Cankton City Park. (337) 668-4671.
• Cajun on Demand plays the Old-Fashioned Fais-do-do Barn Dance at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21 at Lakeview Park & Beach, 1717 Veteran Memorial Highway, in Eunice. (337) 457-2881, www.lvpark.com.
•  Schools of the Sacred Heart hold their annual Family Conge’ from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 22 on the campus in Grand Coteau. The event includes a 5K race, games for all ages, live music, a food court, silent auction and more. Proceeds benefit the Academy of the Sacred Heart and Berchmans Academy of the Sacred Heart. (337) 662-5275, www.sshcoteau.org.
• Guitarist and singer songwriter Bret Vidrine plays at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 22 at NuNu Arts and Culture Collective, 1510 Courtableau Road, in Arnaudville. Les Coudre Points, a weekly, French-language quilting circle, meets at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at NuNu. (337) 754-9898.  

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