10 musical performances round off the annual Alligator Festival

Ten musical acts will be part of the festivities next week when the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish presents the 43rd annual Alligator Festival at West Bank Bridge Park in Luling.

The event takes place from September 26th to 29th and opens next Thursday from 6pm to 9pm. The festival is also open Fridays from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission Fees Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 10 and under, except on Thursdays when admission is free for all.

After a series of stressful days for many, festival planners hope the event will provide a boost to area residents.
“Our condolences go out to the community as they grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Francine…We are excited to fill the Bridge Park, which was filled with sandbags and energy vehicles, with rides and a fun time for all things community .” together,” said Kelsey Pollock, marketing director for the Alligator Festival.

St. Charles Parish native Will Dempsey will headline the festival’s music on Thursday night. Thomas Cain headlines Friday night (8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.), The Chee-Weez headlines Saturday (8:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.), and the weekend ends Sunday night with Bag of Donuts (6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.). :00).

“We are very excited about all of our (musical) performances at the festival this year,” Pollock said. “End with Bag of Donuts – they are always a big draw, very popular and a great way to end the weekend.”

Yeah You Right, St. Charles UMC Band, Tommy G & Stormy Weather, Dwayne Dopsie, The Mojoes and Ryan Foret & Foret Tradition will also perform throughout the weekend. You can find the respective times on the Alligator Festival website.

The event starts on Thursday with free entry for everyone. Pollock said opening night represents a chance for families to get ahead of the larger crowds on weekend days and nights. There are also discounted prices for all-you-can-ride passes on Thursday – $20 versus $25 for each slot the rest of the weekend. Saturday bands are offered in two different time periods: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. On weekends, “megabands” are sold at $70 per band.

New to the celebrations this year are food trucks – five of them in addition to the 20 traditional food stalls on site.

TTasty dishes include more than 10 different ways to try alligator, including some of the event’s signature dishes like alligator burgers and egg rolls.

There will be more than 80 craft stalls offering a wide range of products such as coffee, gemstones, spices, essential oils, knives, fudge, clothing and much more.

New merchandise includes bucket hats, cooling towels and tote bags.

Of course, what sets the Alligator Festival apart most is its namesake – the alligators themselves.

The festival’s live alligator exhibit allows visitors to get up close and personal with the reptiles, while knowledgeable staff from Kliebert & Sons Gator Tours are available to answer any questions.

“I think the uniqueness of being able to experience the alligators in this exhibit is one of the main reasons it has been so popular over the years,” said Pollock, who hopes to draw more than 20,000 people again.

The Alligator Festival is the local Rotary Club’s premier fundraiser and has been held since 1980 to raise funds for St. Charles Parish private scholarships. Because of the funds raised at the Alligator Festival over the past four decades, the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish is now considered the largest private scholarship donor in the parish. Over $1 million in scholarships have been awarded to local youth.

“We are so proud of the support everyone has given us, even during the years canceled due to COVID and Ida, that we were still able to fully fund our scholarships,” Pollock said.

The Alligator Festival has provided official parking on the shoulder of Judge Edward Dufrene Parkway, the St. Charles Parish School Board headquarters parking lot, the RK Smith Middle School parking lot and the St. Charles Parish Satellite Center parking lot. Handicapped parking and vendor parking are available at the West Bank Levee trailhead.

A shuttle service is offered from the designated parking spaces to the side gate of the festival site on Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., on Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m