ST. JOHN – Two annual traditions, the St. John Andouille Pageant and Festival, will once again be held in St. John Parish in October. The Pageant will be held on October 11 at St. John Theatre in Reserve and the Festival will be held on October 17 through 19 at its new location on Highway 51 in LaPlace.

The annual pageant has been held at St. John Theatre for over a decade and brings together many of the young women in St. John who compete for the title of Miss Andouille. The 2007 Miss Andouille Queen Brandi Millet will relinquish her title on October 11 to the theme of “It’s Vegas Baby!” at 7:00 pm. 

Entertainment brings the audience to Vegas as they watch Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and Sonny & Cher perform. The 2008 Mistress of Ceremonies is Miss Ashley Jolly. Those wishing to compete in the pageant should contact the St. John Parish of Economic Development Terri Abadie at 985-652-9569, Marci Ayme at 504-669-0915 or Terri Lucia at 985-652-2898.

The Baby Andouille Pageant will be held on October 19, 2008, at the Festival grounds, and those wishing to enter their children should contact the St. John Parish Dana Milioto at 985-652-9569 ext. 292. More information and entry forms can also be found at www.sjbparish.com.

The Andouille Festival consists of booths, rides, food, music, a 5-mile Andouille Run, arm wrestling and even a gumbo cook-off. The band lineup has been expanded for 2008, and an additional stage featuring several local and national artists will provide entertainment for the entire weekend.

More information can be found at www.sjbparish.com.

The move to the new location has allowed the parish to not only provide a safer place for festival goers to park but also to add several new food booths, more rides, and additional space for craft vendors. The Schedule for the Festival is Friday, October 17, 2008 – 6 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, October 18, 2008 – 11 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, October 19, 2008 – 11am to 10pm. The Andouille Run will be held on October 19, 2008, at 8:30 a.m. There will be a 5-mile run and 2-mile run/walk.  Anyone interested in participating in the race should contact Greg Maurin at 985-652-7058 or email Greg at greg.maurin@stjohnsheriff.org. The Arm Wrestling Competition will take place all weekend with a tournament taking place on Saturday, October 18. Awards will be given for each weight class and the freestyle wrestling winners.

The Annual Gumbo Cook-Off is scheduled for Saturday, October 18, at 2:00 pm. More information to enter the Cook Off can be found at www.sjbparish.com.

Admission to the Festival is $2 for adults and $1 for children 10 and under.

BAND SCHEDULE

FRIDAY

6 pm – 8 pm

The  Animal Krackers

8:30 pm – 12 midnight

Flashback

6 pm – 7:30 pm

LA Matt

8 pm – 10 pm

USAF  Band of

Mid-America

SATURDAY

11 am – 12:30 pm

Two  If By Land

1 pm –  4 pm

Foret  Tradition

5 pm – 7:30 pm

Charmaine  Neville

8 pm – 12 mid

The  Distractions

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Performing Arts

Dancers

12:30 pm – 1 pm

Tori Lynn’s School of Dance

2 pm – 5 pm

Big Al & The

Heavy Weights

6 pm – 8 pm

Shane Johns

SUNDAY

11 am – 1:30 pm

Todd  O’Neill

2:30 pm – 6 pm

MoJeaux

7 pm – 10 pm

Chee  Weez

11am – 2:30 pm

River Rats

3 pm – 6:30 pm

Tout  Les Soir