New Iberia, LA

Spring has officially arrived in Acadiana. It's that time of year and the many local festivals and cultural events are underway. The SugArena at Acadiana Fairgrounds in New Iberia, Louisiana will be the setting for the 2011 Cajun Hot Sauce Festival on April 8th, 9th & 10th, 2011.

The Cajun Hot Sauce Festival weekend events include: Hot Sauce Competitions, a Jambalaya cook-off, Live Entertainment by local and national recording artists, a Cajun Food Court, Arts & Crafts, a Carnival and a Queens Pageant. Lots of fun is sure to be had for the entire family.

Gate Times & Admission:

6:00 pm - Friday, April 8th $10

3:00 pm - Saturday, April 9th $5

9:00 am - Sunday, April 10th $5

Entertainment Lineup:

Friday, April 8

7:00-8:30 PM-----------DAMON TROY & FINAL FIVE

9:00-10:30 PM---------BROKEN MEAUXJO

11:00-1:00 AM---------THE CHEE WEEZ BAND

Saturday April 9

4:00 PM-----------------CAJUN HOT SAUCE TALENT CONTEST

7:00-9:00 PM---------T.K., G.G. SHINN & SMOKE

9:15-10:45PM--------MUSTANG SALLY (Nashville Recording Artist)

11:00-1:00 AM-------JAMIE BERGERON & THE KICKIN CAJUNS

Sunday April 10

9:30-11:00 AM-------SOUTHERN COMFORT TRIO

11:30-1:00 PM-------RYAN FORET & FORET TRADITION

1:30-3:30PM--------GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH ROCKIN BOOGIE

4:00-6:00 PM---------LIL NATHAN & THE ZYDECO BIG TIMERS

DIRECTIONS FROM I-10 (the event is approximately 20 miles from I-10 in Lafayette, LA)

Take exit 103-A, Hwy 167 South (90E) through Lafayette, past the airport to New Iberia. Pass mile marker 125 and go over the overpass. Take Exit #126 (Hwy. 675 - Jefferson Island Exit) and go left under the overpass. Take frontage road to the left across from Landry's Restaurant to Hwy. 3212. Follow Hwy. 3212 and the SugArena will be on the right (Landry's Restaurant is on the Corner of Hwy. 165 and Hwy. 90).

For additional information:

SugArena at Acadiana Fairgrounds
713 Northwest Bypass (Hwy 3212), New Iberia, LA 70560
Ticket Information: (337) 365-7539
Fax: (337) 365-4795

http://www.sugarena.com/chsf.htm

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Whether you're "Hot" to purchase or sell a home, or simply seeking area information on fun activities in and around greater Lafayette, LA or the Acadiana area, we're here to help!

Almost everyone has heard of Punxsutawney Phil, but how many of you have heard of Pierre Shadeaux or T-Boy? Pierre Shadeaux and T-Boy are nutria from the bayou and swamps of Louisiana.

Groundhogs are native to North America, with a range that extends south to northern Alabama. So if you live in the coastal south of Louisiana, just how are you supposed to predict the end of winter, or in Louisiana the beginning of summer? They picked the nutria, like the family pictured here, rodents who populated the swamplands when brought from South America as future fur coats. They are cute and fuzzy as babies but grow fierce, long orange teeth and other less appealing features as adults. Winter's not a big deal here, but summer is. Up north, seeing a shadow is bad news. For them it means six more weeks of winter, but in Louisiana it means a shorter spring and a quicker return of summer's grueling heat and humidity.

T-Boy is a cute, fluffy baby will emerge Feb.2nd from a hole at the Louisiana Swamp Exhibit at the Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, LA to make his own prediction about the arrival of spring in New Orleans. T-Boy is a nutria, a type of semi aquatic rodent well-known in this part of the country for damaging the wetlands with its feeding habits. At 6 weeks old, T-Boy, whose name is equivalent to "little boy" among Cajuns, is still in a photogenic phase. See his cute baby face in this photo.,provided by Live Science blog.

The Louisiana town of New Iberia has its own "Cajun Groundhog," dubbed Pierre C. Shadeaux, which will emerge from its miniature Acadian-style house in search of his shadow. The furry guy is part of a ceremony similar to Groundhog Day. It takes place on Bouligny Plaza in New Iberia 7:30-8:00am and is followed by town events like awarding winner of the essay contest and other fun events.

If he does not see his shadow, spring will be long; if he does, start saving for that air conditioning bill!