Fest With No Rest

April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire…
T. S. Eliot, "The Wasteland"

April really is the cruellest month, because it's absolutely impossible to attend every single one of the festivals happening in the Greater New Orleans-South Louisiana area this month, and it's almost impossible to choose between them.

Last weekend, there was a Latina Festival on the corner of Napoleon and Magazine (my old neighborhood!), the Isleños Festival happened in its original location in St. Bernard Parish (where I grew up), the Cajun Hot Sauce Festival was going on in New Iberia, Lusher School threw a benefit crawfish boil, the Old Algiers Festival went on across the river, and the 11th Annual Freret Street Fest was held on the afore-mentioned street. Big Man and I attended the latter, being as he had another gig playing behind Joe Cool Davis. After their set was over, we ate ourselves silly on the fantastic food, enjoyed looking at all the crafts items, and heard some really great music. But we had to miss the other *5* festivals, all of which I'm sure also had terrific food and great music. (Next year, Big Man *really* wants to try that Hot Sauce Fest!)

This weekend is the famous French Quarter Festival, and it will be Big Man's first time at this event (and my first time in 15 years). We are hosting some friends from out of town this weekend, and I know we'll have lots of fun. But we'll be missing the Strawberry Festival in Pontchatoula and the Louisiana Bird Festival in Mandeville, as well as the Swamp Celtic Games in Gonzales. The weekend after, April 19-20, there will be the giant Asian-Pacific American Heritage Festival at Audubon Zoo, the famous Angola Rodeo, the Slidell Antique District Street Fair, the Indian Parade and Festival in Algiers. (We'll be in the Park for an outdoor church Earth Day service, so I guess we'll run over to the zoo and check out the festivities there. We may be too full from the church picnic to enjoy the food, but I'm sure we'll at least sample some.)

The last weekend in April is just ridiculous. There's the Blues Fest in Baton Rouge, the Crawfish Fest in Breaux Bridge, the Etouffee Festival in Arnaudville, the annual Blessing of the Boats in Bayou Segnette, and the famous Festival International in Lafayette. Oh yeah -- there's also this little thing called the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Big Man and I will be at Jazz Fest, of course -- I figure it'll take me about 5-10 years to have my fill of Jazz Fest and to want to check out another festival instead. But the overchoice! It's incredible!

There's just no rest for the fest-inclined in New Orleans and South Louisiana this month. Oh well. Wonder what the rest of the country is doing in April? Likely, wishing they were here.