by Wesley Harris
An impressive crowd of several thousand locals and visitors turned out Saturday for the 37th annual Louisiana Chicken Festival in Dubach.
For all accounts, the street festival was deemed a success.
“It was perfect!” one visitor wrote in a social media post.
DRABO, the Dubach Restoration and Beautification Organization, has sponsored the festival since 1989 in tribute to the local poultry production industry.
The festivities kicked off at 9:00 a.m. with a brief opening ceremony, followed by a parade consisting of nearly 100 entries.
The procession wound through downtown, with queens from a pageant held earlier this month riding high on decorated vehicles. Candidates for political office trotted alongside floats carrying church and school groups. Even a floppy-eared basset hound who appeared to be driving an old-timey pickup truck brought up the rear.
Main and Hico Streets were packed with vendors selling food and refreshments, artwork, crafts, and other items. A lemonade stand was particularly popular in the heat, although partly cloudy skies helped keep temperatures reasonable.
Tamales, tortas, and tacos, as well as burgers and barbecue, gave festivalgoers plenty of choices for lunch.
Among the activities were a drumstick eating contest, hula hoop contest, and “strut, cackle, and crow” events. And no truly Southern gathering is complete without a cakewalk.
Justin Thompson, a social media influencer who documented the event, said his favorite part was meeting so many people.
“I saw so many smiling faces, more than I’ve seen in Dubach in a long time. From the hula hoop contest and all the other contests in front of the DRABO tent to the Elvis impersonator put on by Dubach Legends, there was always something going on.”
Heath Humble, a candidate for police chief, said he enjoyed participating in the parade.
“I had an especially fun time at the festival . . . throwing candy out to the children and meeting so many wonderful people,” Humble said.
In a written statement, DRABO said, “We sincerely thank everyone who came out and supported the Louisiana Chicken Festival! Your support and participation are what makes this tradition so special.
“We strive to make the festival better each year and are truly grateful to everyone who helps make it possible. We look forward to seeing you next year!”
“Days like that remind you just how special this little town and the people in it really are,” Thompson concluded.
