Louisana Fir and Wildlife Festival Jamuary 13-14, 2012

Cameron, Louisiana has the honor of hosting this festival that has the honor of being "One of the Oldest and Coldest Festivals in Louisiana"

This year they will be honoring the Shrimping Industry. This festival is jamed packed full of things to do and to see.

All events will take place on the fairgrounds located at the Pat's of Cameron (across from the Cameron Parish School Board) in downtown Cameron. Sorry folks, but ice chests will not be allowed on the fairgrounds.

For a complete schedule of events http://lafurandwildlifefestival.com/schedule.htm

The idea for the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival in Cameron was originated in 1955 by the late Congressman T. A. Thompson who represented the area.

On a challenge from the Congressman in Cambridge, Maryland, Representative Thompson sent fifty-two year old Leon Hebert, a 25 year trapper, from Cameron to the National Outdoor Show  to compete in the National Fur Skinning Contest.  Mr. Hebert placed fifth in the nation that year.  (Leon Hebert won the Louisiana title at the first annual Fur and Wildlife Festival on December 2-3, 1955 by skinning five muskrats in 53 3/5 seconds, nosing out John Broussard by five seconds.)

A small group of people met during the summer of 1955 in the old Police Jury meeting room in the Cameron Courthouse Building (where the Sheriff's tax office is now located), to make plans for the first festival.  From this grassroots group of organizers came one of the oldest, most successful festivals, the Louisiana Fur & Wildlife Festival.

In spite of the bitter cold weather in December of 1955, and operating on a "shoestring" budget the festival was a huge success.  Funding was provided by the Cameron Parish Police Jury and private donations.

Battle of New Orleans Celebration, January 6-8, 2012

As I was sitting in my chair, I was just thinking about this blog, and the fact that if you who are reading it are like I am, a planner. I like to plan every aspect, even though, most of the time I fall short of this goal. I also realized that 2011 is coming to a close and the first of the festivals are beginning soon for the upcoming year.

The first one is the Battle of New Orleans,located at Chalmette National Park in Chalmette, Louisiana.

The Following information is from the Jean-Lafitte National Historical Site

Remember the Battle of New Orleans at Chalmette Battlefield, the very place where it happened. Meet the American and British troops who fought one of the most significant battles in world history and the civilians who kept the home fires burning in New Orleans.

Over 100 living history experts in period dress will bring the sights and sounds of January 8, 1815, to life in 2012 on Friday, January 6

• 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Living history encampment, cannon and musket firings, military drills, and period crafts.  Free.     
• 7:00 p.m. Reenactment of the December 23, 1814, night battle at historic de La Ronde Oaks, just down the highway from the battlefield. Hosted by St. Bernard Parish Government and presented by the Louisiana Living History Foundation. Free.

Saturday, January 7

• 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Living history encampment, cannon and musket firings, military drills, and period crafts.  Free.
• Saturday night Lantern Tour. First tour begins at 5:45 p.m.; last tour begins at 7:15 p.m. Admission by ticket only; tickets are now on sale.

Sunday, January 8

• 9:30 a.m. Wreath-laying ceremony honors the men who fought at the Battle of New Orleans. Free.

Battle of New Orleans History

The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815 and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. American forces, commanded by Major General Andrew Jackson, defeated an invading British Army intent on seizing New Orleans and the vast territory the United States had acquired with the Louisiana Purchase. The Treaty of Ghent had been signed on December 24, 1814 and ratified by the United States Senate on February 16, 1815. However, official dispatches announcing the peace would not reach the combatants until late February, finally putting an end to the war. The battle is widely regarded as the greatest American land victory of the war.

For more information of this important battle, visit Wikipedia.com or type in Battle of New Orleans, 1812 in your search engine.