By David Dinsmore • ddinsmore@thetowntalk.com •
November 6, 2009
COLFAX -- People searching for a good piece of pecan
pie -- and a slice of pure Americana -- can make their
way to Main Street in Colfax this weekend for the 41st
annual Louisiana Pecan Festival.
The festival holds in store three full days worth of
fun with contests, concerts and carnivals, Wanda
Walker, festival president, said.
"We're expecting a big crowd," she said. "The weather
is supposed to be gorgeous."
The festival is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. today with
the blessing of the crops near the flag pole on Main
Street just before the vendors open for business and
the cooking contest gets underway, according to the
schedule of events.
With Grant Parish schools out on holiday Friday, a
special children's day will entertain the young ones
from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. with a petting zoo, jumpers,
games, face painting, popcorn and hot dogs.
The Country Store will also open at 9 a.m. with its
selections of homemade treats and memorabilia like
T-shirts and posters from the festival.
The cooking contest results will come in around noon as
the carnival and antique tractor show open to the
public. Avery Michaels and Exit 209 also will crank it
up at this time on the Kramer Stage.
The Bernie Alan Band will take over the stage at 4:30
p.m. until the close of the outdoor activities at 8
p.m.
The festivities will move to the Colfax Civic Center at
8 p.m. tonight for the Queen's Ball. Tickets are $20
and are available at the door.
The grand parade has been moved from its traditional 10
a.m. slot to 9 a.m. this year.
And afterward, the carnival, country store and other
attractions will open for another day of revelry.
At 12:30 p.m., the Pecanettes will perform and the
parade results will be announced.
Charles Basco and Friends will pump up the volume at 1
p.m. and play until the pie eating contest at 4:30
p.m.
Trini Triggs will get people's feet moving at the
street dance beginning at 5 p.m. and rocking until the
fireworks display at 8 p.m., which will conclude
Saturday's festival events.
The Sons of Thunder will open the festival at 10 a.m.
on Sunday followed by Diamond Back at noon, and the fun
will roll on until 5 p.m. when the festival closes for
another year.
The Louisiana Pecan Festival gives people who have
moved away from Grant Parish a good reason to come back
for a visit, Walker said.
"It means families coming home," she said. "You see so
many familiar faces you haven't seen since the last
Pecan Festival."