NEWS RELEASES
  Crowning of 2009 Miss Opelousas Spice and Music Festival |
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Opelousas Spice & Music Festival 2009 Royalty. Pictured, from left to right, are Becky Richard, Ms. Spice & Music Festival; Ruth Fruge', Miss Spice & Music Festival; and C'Quoya Haughton, Teen Spice & Music Festival. |
RUTH FRUGE' OF KINDER CROWNED 2009 OPELOUSAS SPICE & MUSIC FESTIVAL QUEEN
(Opelousas, LA) - Ruth Fruge', a 18-year-old Bethel Christian School Senior, was crowned the 2009 Spice & Music Festival Queen on Saturday, May 2 at Magnet Academy of Cultural Arts in Opelousas. A native of Kinder, Louisiana, Fruge' plans to attend Louisiana Honors College in the fall where she will major in sociology and afterwards, pursue a degree in law. First runner up in the Miss Division was Tanaya Yiden and second runner up was Crystal Rytter. The Congeniality Award also went to Tanaya Yiden.
The Ms. Spice & Music Festival crown went to Becky Richard of Scott with Namoi Fruge as first runner up and Claudia Carroll as second runner up. C’Quoya Haughton was crowned Teen Spice & Music Festival while Ashleigh Keller was first runner up and Megan Payne was second runner up in the division. Pageant directors were Robin Abshire and Liz Landry.
The 5th annual Opelousas Spice & Music Festival is scheduled for June 5-7 in historic downtown Opelousas. The event offers a unique three day celebration showcasing the area’s Cajun and Creole culture through food, music, and dance.
The Spice & Music Festival will kick-off with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 5, followed by a special blend of musical performances including Southern Soul (Swing Out) from Lil’ Fallay, Cajun- French from Lost Bayou Ramblers and Zydeco from Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band. Friday night will also feature a heated Zydeco dance contest. Families can also take advantage of $15 ‘all you can ride’ bracelets on Friday evening.
On Saturday, Historic Trolley Tours will be available from 11 – 2 p.m. where individuals will be able to explore significant landmarks and turn-of-the-century buildings within the downtown historic district. The festival grounds will open at noon on Saturday with a DJ, arts & crafts and carnival rides followed by Horace Trahan & the New Ossun Express taking the stage at 1:00 p.m. Following Trahan is Step Rideau, Hotline, Jeffery Broussard, Lil Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers, J. Paul & Zydeco Nu Breed and Chris Ardoin & Nu Step. Other Saturday events include a Cajun/Creole cooking demonstration, a Fiddler Jam with Hadley Castille at 2:00 p.m. at the Old City Market located on the historical St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square. The Fiddle Jam will include guests such as Al Berard of the Basin Brothers, Mitch Reed of Beausoleil, John Buckaloo of the Noveau String Band and Terry Huval of Jambalaya Cajun Band. Meanwhile, the festival will also feature an accordion contest scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday, Leon Chavis & the Zydeco Flames are scheduled to perform at 1:00 p.m. followed by Krossfyre, Patrick Henry, Cajun-Zydeco Grammy winner Terrance Simien and Chris Ardoin & Nu Step. In addition to great music, Sunday will feature a Cajun Dance Contest, Pepper Eating Contest and Queen’s Spice Cook-Off Contest, where individuals and teams will prepare red beans and rice for competition.
And of course, the Spice & Music Festival will offer Cajun and Creole food lovers plenty of mouthwatering dishes including entrees like crawfish and shrimp etoufee, boudin, jambalaya, fried catfish and more.
This year’s Opelousas Spice & Music Festival sponsors include: Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, CLECO, Hancock Bank, SLEMCO, Entergy, Louisiana Lottery, Quik Quarter, Opelousas General Health System, St. Landry Homestead, Centerpoint Energy, Office of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, St. Landry Parish Recycling, Bodemuller the Printer, St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission, Zydeco Online and Mix 107.1 and KSLO-KOGM.
The festival site is located on 105 North Main Street. On Saturday and Sunday, festival admission is $10 for adults and $3 for children 12 years and younger and on Sunday, admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 years and younger. For more information about the 2009 Opelousas Spice & Music Festival, visit www.opelousasspiceandmusicfestival.com or call (337) 948-5227 or (337) 948-6263. For vendor inquiries, please call (337) 948-2589.
