By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The St. John the Baptist Parish 2010 Andouille Festival continues at Highway 51 Park in LaPlace today and tomorrow.

The festival, which began last night, is scheduled for today from 11 a.m. to midnight and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children under 12.

Events for this year’s fest include the 32nd annual Andouille Run on Sunday at 8:30 a.m., a gumbo cook-off and apron contest on Saturday and the Jazz Brunch featuring a buffet, unlimited mimosas and jazz from the Yat Pack Sunday morning.

Saturday’s Kid’s Zone events are geared toward the parish’s younger dancers with presentations from the LaPlace Elementary Tigerettes, Tori Lynn’s School of Dance, the Performing Art Dancers and Aimee’s Dance Academy. Sunday is the day for all the little ghouls and goblins to come out and play with a decorated pumpkin contest, trick or treating and a costume contest all scheduled. For a full listing of Kid’s Zone events, visit www.lobservateur.com.

Of course, food will be a major part of the weekend, with vendors selling everything from corndogs to chicken andouille gumbo and everything in between. Additionally, 20 other vendor booths will peddle handmade crafts and more.

The final main ingredient for any successful festival is music, and the Andouille Fest has it in spades. Although the fest has pared it down to just one stage for bands this year, that stage will be kept rocking from open to close for the remainder of the weekend.

Entertainment Schedule

Saturday

• Ruff N Ready – 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• The Topcats – 1-4 p.m.

• “BCSN” Band – 4:30-7 p.m.

• Charmaine Neville – 7:30-9:30 p.m.

• David St. Romain – 10 p.m.-midnight

Sunday

• Bits and Pieces – 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Misbehavin – 2:30-5:30 p.m.

• Mojeaux – 6-10 p.m.