By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

GARYVILLE – While most people in the region were recovering from Mardi Gras festivities this week, the staff and volunteers at San Francisco Plantation were busy getting the property ready for this weekend’s eighth annual Frisco Fest.

The annual arts and crafts festival is held every year during the first weekend after the first full week of March, but this year that weekend just happens to fall a few days after Fat Tuesday.

“You have to pick a day and stick with it,” said San Francisco Plantation General Manager Kim Fontenot.

She explained the house must take the other festivals into account when planning the annual event.

Just to clarify, volunteer Sheryl Luminais added, “Mardi Gras competed with us.”

Regardless, this weekend will feature enough to do to shake off the post-Mardi Gras blues from even the most ardent of Carnival participants.

“We have incredible artists this year,” said Fontenot. “Many of our crafters are returning.”

This year’s event will feature over 140 booths from artists and crafters both near and far. Some of the items on offer are paintings, pottery, soap, candles, handmade clothing, pickled items and lots of fleur de lis designs.

In addition to the vendor booths, the festival will once again feature a classic car show today, although no one is sure yet just how many the vehicles will pack into the grounds.

“Most of the car enthusiasts don’t like to pre-register,” said Luminais. “They want to wait and know it’s going to be a perfect day.”

Another event making a return appearance today is the bike tour, which comes in both a 25- and a 40-mile version.

The cracklin’ contest also comes back for its second incarnation today.

Tomorrow will feature a 1-mile fun run and a 5-kilometer race as well as the Chef’s Choice Cook Off. Off the Hook will be providing live entertainment from noon to 5 p.m.

Both days will have plenty of food on offer, including Cajun and creole fare along with hamburgers, hot dogs and french fries, as well as gardening tips from the LSU Master Gardeners and children’s activities.

Fontenot said that while she always likes to see first-time visitors during Frisco Fest, they are not really the target audience.

“This is for the tri-parish area,” she said. “We hope to see them out here.”

Gates open at 9 a.m. both today and tomorrow, and admission is $5. The festival closes at 5 p.m. each day.

Visit www.sanfranciscoplantation.org for more information.