2008 Gretna Heritage Festival - Day 2

Before I head back over to Gretna for the final day of the Heritage Festival, I thought I would share some photos from Saturday.  The weather was gorgeous, the food was incredible and music was being played on 7 different stages all day and into the night.

I missed the big name acts, since I was working at the Krewe of Choctaw booth, but I did manage to take a stroll around and catch some of the local artists (who are my favorite anyway) and sample some of the dishes being put out by the other non-profit organizations.  I hope they were are busy as we were - so far this weekend, we have served over 1,000 pounds of fried shrimp…not to mention the fried catfish and the crawfish pies!

Here’s a peek at some of Saturday’s events….

The crowds were amazing - I’m sure that this year is breaking all previous attendance records.

The Mardi Gras Indians paraded through the festival, following the brass band up and down the streets.

Music, music….everywhere…

And the food…you don’t have to worry about going hungry here!  Here’s a sample of what we ate throughout the day.  I missed getting a picture of the crawfish enchiladas, but if you go out today, be sure to get some.  They were so delicious that I forgot I had a camera!

Hope to see you at the closing day of the festival today - I’ll be the girl in the West Bank Tshirt - reminding everyone what a great place this is to call home!

All photos copyright 2008, Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.

2008 Gretna Heritage Festival This Weekend!

The festival is here!  The festival is here!

My absolutely must attend West Bank festival is taking place this weekend in the City of Gretna and I can’t wait to get out there and hear some great music, eat some fantastic food and try to keep at least a little cash in my pocket while drooling over the beautiful arts, crafts and jewelry that fill the booths.

Starting at 4 pm on Friday, the 2008 Gretna Heritage Festival kicks off with my favorite local band Chicken on the Bone rocking the market stage.  Disclosure:  I’m just a little biased since my hubby is in this band!  The music continues all weekend with performances by Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat, KC and the Sunshine Band and Montgomery Gentry.  Loads of local musicians will be on tap as well:  Allen Toussaint, Galactic, Amanda Shaw, Bucktown Allstars, Chee Weez, Dash Rip Rock (wait…I’m having a flashback) and more.

And don’t forget about all of the delicious food…I’ll be hanging out working in the Krewe of Choctaw booth, serving fried shrimp po-boys, fried catfish po-boys and crawfish pies.  Non-profit organizations run all of the food booths, so stop in and see me and help support your local folks.

Where else are you going to get all of this for the low admission price of $10 per day or $25 for a weekend pass?  For a music schedule and parking information visit www.gretnafest.com.  If you don’t want the hassle of parking, the Canal Street ferry has free pedestrian rides to the Gretna ferry landing every hour and free shuttle buses are available at Oakwood Shopping Center and Westside Shopping Center.  Of course, if you live on the West Bank in Gretna, you may be close enough to just walk on over.

I’ll be taking pictures all weekend, so watch for them to be posted here.  Hopefully, I get to see more than just shrimp!

Gretna Heritage Festival Line Up Announced

My absolute favorite festival on the West Bank is the Gretna Heritage Festival, held the first weekend of October each year.  There are enough things for the kids to do and ride and eat and play on that I could easily go broke in 3 short days, but we’ve learned to make them budget their money for the weekend to avoid that sad scenario.

Since I belong to the Krewe of Choctaw carnival club, I spend the entire weekend at the Festival, alternately having fun checking out all of the art, crafts and jewelry and then working at the booth we sponsor, selling the best shrimp po-boys and crawfish pies and people watching - one of my favorite activities.

The music line up for the 2008 Festival has been announced and it looks like another stellar year of entertainment, with both local and national acts performing throughout the weekend.  Last year I ended up right at the front of the stage for Travis Tritt’s performance…I wonder what this year will bring?

Here’s the lineup for opening day, Friday, October 3rd.

Did you notice the little blue highlight at the Market Stage?  That’s because I’m so excited that my husband’s band, Chicken on the Bone, has been booked to perform.  Playing rock n roll cover tunes from Elvis to ZZ Top, they are just a bunch of local guys that love to make music and have a whole lot of fun doing it with only one rule - no line dances!

For the entire schedule, click here.  I hope to see you there, celebrating with me on the West Bank

Copyright 2008.  West Bank Living and Lisa Heindel  All rights reserved.