By KEVIN CHIRI

Editor and Publisher

LAPLACE – If the new administration running the St. John Parish government is trying to use the Andouille Festival as their signature statement, then their slogan must be something like “always bigger and better.”

That’s the impression coming out of the parish in recent weeks, with the annual Andouille Festival fast approaching, set for next weekend, October 17-19.

First and foremost is the fact that the festival has been moved to a site that will allow it to expand in years to come. Now set for the grounds of the St. John Community Center, on Highway 51 next to the parish library, the festival is already expecting more vendors, rides and visitors than it has ever had.

This year’s festival has gotten so much bigger, that some aspects of it appear to mimic the New Orleans Jazzfest.

For the first time ever, there will be two music stages set up on the large festival layout, with a “Miller Lite Stage” and a “Bud Light Stage” to provide as much music variety as anyone could want.

“We wanted to move to the Community Center property so we would have more space to make the festival bigger,” new Parish President Bill Hubbard said. “And we think this is a safer area for people to come.”

Many years ago the Andouille Festival was held on Highway 51 and had some top national bands performing, such as Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr. Crowds at that time were huge, according to some locals who used to attend. This year’s festival appears to be turning back towards that kind of attendance potential.

In recent years, the festival had been put on in front of the parish administrative building on Airline Highway, forcing many guests to park across the street and walk across the busy four-lane Airline road. Additionally, space was limited for the fair to actually set up.

Now with the bigger venue, and in a place to utilize the still-new Community Center, the parish has announced more and more additions to this year’s festival, topped this week by the signing of yet another top band for Friday night, as Louisiana Spice will perform from 8 to 12 on the Miller Lite Stage.

Parish PIO Buddy Boe also reported on Friday that “Changing Times” will be a band added to play right after the Andouille run on Sunday “to add a little party atmosphere to that event,” Boe said.

Check out the entire band lineup in today’s updated parish ad on page 5A.

Additionally on Friday night after high school football games have finished in the area, a spectacular fireworks show is planned, something that was never included in the festival before.

The fair will be open on Friday, Oct. 17 from 6 p.m. to midnight; on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to midnight; and then on Sunday, Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Some of the top bands from the Southeast Louisiana area will highlight the schedule of music this year, with longtime local favorites like Charmaine Neville performing from 5 to 7:30 on Saturday, Chee Weez performing on Sunday from 7 to 10, and Flashback on Friday night from 8:30 to midnight.

Of course there will be the ever-popular Andouille Festival Baby Pageant, which will be more accessible to fair-goers this year, since it will be held inside the Community Center, beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday. There will be divisions from 6-12 months, all the way to 10-12-years-old.

One event that is growing in popularity is the Gumbo Cook-Off, which will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m., with 10 chefs competing in a competition that involves chicken or andouille gumbo dishes. The event will be part of the festival being aired on WTIX in New Orleans, and have a judge from the radio station.

On Sunday the 30th annual running of the Andouille Run will be held, with a five mile run, and a two mile run/walk. For more information on getting into those races, call Greg Maurin at 652-7058.

A freestyle arm wrestling tournament will also be held on Saturday at 8 p.m., with divisions for kids and adults.

The midway rides are expected to be more varied than ever this year, with the usual “Pay One Price” armband offer.

Admission to the festival is $2 for adults and $1 for children 12-and-under.

The Andouille Festival is utilized each year by most civic or charitable organizations, including many churches, to raise funds for many of their year-long community events.

For more information on the festival, go to the parish website at sjbparish.com, or call 652-9569, ext. 217.