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The first weekend of April found the historic town of Donaldsonville the cultural
center of Ascension Parish as the 2nd Annual Art, Antiques, and Authors Festival took
center stage in the downtown and surrounding areas. Presided over by Mayor Leroy Sullivan, this springtime event, still in its infancy, is fast becoming one of Ascension’s most anticipated and attended festivals.
Aptly described by its name, the Art, Antiques & Authors Festival features events,
displays, and competitions to suit almost everyone’s taste. The youngsters were obviously overjoyed to participate in a real ‘Pirate Treasure Hunt’, and were entertained by authentic Cajun and Clog dancers as well as by the ‘Bark in the Park’ dog show. The party carried
on well into the night spurred on by several of Ascension’s popular and talented musicians and pop groups.
Visitors to the festival clamored to see and purchase the outstanding works of local artists and authors, many of whom were on hand to sign and authenticate their offerings for patrons who had come from far and wide to see this ‘center of history’ they had heard so much about. Donaldsonville’s prominent place in the Civil War was exhibited by the Donaldsonville Cannoneers of the Ft. Butler Foundation. The historic B. Lemann and Brothers store, home of the Ascension Heritage Association’s Donaldsonville Museum, was party central as many local authors and antiques dealers showed off their wares.
Many residents of Ascension, and particularly Donaldsonville, are people forced to relocate after the devastation of Katrina, and most continue to be pleasantly surprised at their good fortune for having landed in the center of such a friendly and hospitable area as Ascension Parish. For many, the highlight of the festival was clearly the ‘Hot 'N Spicy Political Cook-Off’, featuring twelve local politicians. Tommy and Randall Aldridge, sponsored by Pegram Mire, were outstanding and were awarded first place honors. Rickey Babin’s hand picked team of Jason Casso, David LeBlanc, and Lawrence Falcon finished a very strong second, and Donaldsonville Councilman Raymond Aucoin’s team of cooks Kirk Landry and Paul Gilmore were a remarkably close third-place finishers. The fantastic turn-out and the incredible memories created by this year’s gathering promises that this young festival and its gathering of neighbors will have a long and lasting future in Ascension Parish. |
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