Jambalaya Festival in Gonzales: Cooking competition times, music lineup

GONZALES, La. (BRPROUD) — Grab those lawn chairs and head out to the festival grounds in Gonzales for the 56th Annual Jambalaya Festival.

Festivities for the festival are all weekend long, beginning on Friday, May 26, and ending on Sunday, May 28 at the Gonzales Fairgrounds, located at 219 S. Irma Boulevard.

The festival features live music and entertainment, carnival rides, vendors, a car show, and of course, jambalaya.

Gonzales was deemed the “Jambalaya capital of the world” by Louisiana Gov. John McKeithen in 1968, according to the festival’s website, the same year the first festival was held. Recorded history of the event said in just a few years, 50,000 attendees were going to the festival by 1971.

Tickets

It’s free to get into this festival! However, carnival ride tickets start at $30. Individual tickets for rides range from $3-7 each and weekend passes will be sold for $60.

Jambalaya cooking contest times

Friday, May 26

Heats 1-4 will be at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
The Mini-Pot Champ of Champs will be at 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 27

Heats 5-8 will be at 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Champ of Champs will be from 2:30-5:30 p.m.
Mini-Pot Cooking Contest will be from 7-11 a.m.

Sunday, May 28

Semi-finals will be from 6-10 a.m.
Finals will be from 1:30-5 p.m.

Carnival times

Friday, May 26: 5-10 p.m.
Saturday, May 27: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, May 28: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Music lineup

Friday, May 26

Main Festival Stage:

Damon Troy from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Ryan Foret & Foret Tradition 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Indoor Stage:

Back Street Band ft. Ruckle Gautreau from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Dustin Sonnier from 9:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Cooking Area Stage:

Joey Ray from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Lauren Lee Band from 4-6 p.m.

Saturday, May 27

Main Festival Stage:

Crazy Blue from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Justin Cornett from 2-5 p.m.
Eddie Smith Band ft. Floyd Brown from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Gregg Martinez w/ TK Hulin & Johnny Allen 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Indoor Stage:

Kenny Cornett from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Swampland Revival from 2-5 p.m.
Mike Broussard & Nite Train from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
South 70 Band from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Cooking Area Stage:

T-Boy Moore & Just Us from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Jovin Webb 4-7 p.m.

Sunday, May 28

Main Festival Stage:

Dustin Guedry from 12-3 p.m.
Chris LeBlanc & Jonathon Boogie Long from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
The Mojoes from 8-11 p.m.

Indoor Stage:

Rhett Glindmeyer from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Na Na Sha from 1-4 p.m.
Don Rich from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
After 8 from 8-11 p.m.

Cooking Area Stage:

Ghost Riders Band from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Taylor Nauta 4-7 p.m.

Weather

The BRProud weather forecast for next week: “Mostly dry to start the new workweek, but rain chances will increase heading into the middle half of the week and beyond. This is with another front bring uplift and rain chances.”

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