Sally Angelle

sally.angelle@techetoday.com

Breaux Bridge – It’s the first full weekend in May – you know what that means – the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival is happening in Parc Hardy.

Each year locals volunteer their time and services to put together a three-day event celebrating crawfish.

Clyde Bodkin from Indiana has been volunteering at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival for the past ten years.

He first visited the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans where he got a taste of Cajun music at the Fais do-do stage.

Soon he decided to seek out other festivals that showcased Cajun music and discovered the Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge.

“I had never heard of Breaux Bridge,” admits Bodkin.

There he was introduced to BBCFA members Shine and Jan Sonnier, and told them he wanted to volunteer his services wherever they needed.

“They took a chance on me and each year I spend the weekend working as a stage manager and helping with musicians at both stages,” Bodkin said.

“Everyone I have met treats me like family,” adds Bodkin. “One day I’m going to have a second home here.”

Gates open at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 4, opening ceremonies will be held at 4:30 p.m. This year’s festival talent includes local bands and musicians such as REFLX, High Performance, Yvette Landry, Huval Family Band, Nik-l-beer and Hunter Courville, just to name a few. There will be plenty of food, music and fun at this year’s Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival.