Cypress Sawmill Festival will return April 1-3

The Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival will hold its 26th annual celebration April 1-3 at Kemper Williams Park in Patterson.
This event is a family festival featuring professional lumberjack shows, chainsaw carving, a cypress sawmill display, golf and softball tournaments, a passé partout (two-person saw) contest, arts and crafts, a street fair with rides and games, and food and drink booths.
Zoo-Zoom, an exotic traveling petting zoo, an old engine display, and a fireworks salute to support services are included in this year’s festivities.
Admission into the park is $5 per car on Friday, $10 per car on Saturday and Sunday, or $20 for a weekend pass.
The All American Professional Lumberjack Show will host two free performances April 1 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. These are open to both school children and the general public, according to Festival Chairman Steve Bierhorst.
Live local talent will compete in the Country Showdown, a country music talent contest and KQKI radio promotion, on Friday, April 1, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 pm. Every year the contest spotlights some of the best and brightest local performers. The winner of the contest will compete for the state title later this year. Visit www.kqki.com for more information.
Other live entertainment this year will include performances on Friday, April 1 by Old Soul, 9:30-11:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 2, by Cypress Band featuring Warren Storm & Willie Tee, noon-2:30 p.m.; Don Rich Band, 3-6 p.m..; 90 Degrees West, 6:30-9 p.m.; South 70 Band, 9:30-11:30 p.m.; and Sunday, April 3, by Blue-Eyed Soul Revue, noon-2 p.m.; Greg Martinez and the Delta Kings, 2:30-4:30 p.m.; and Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns, 5-7 p.m.
Overnight camping is available at Kemper Williams Park for $35 per unit per day, with a two-day minimum. For reservations and additional information, please contact Kemper Williams Park at 985-395-2298.
Requests for applications for food vendors can be sent to Lee Craddock at crad2055@bellsouth.net; arts & crafts vendors to Jan Sellers or Rickey Brinlee at rcbrinlee@aol.com; softball tournament to Dr. Ted Weller, Bill Skinner or Rich Soley at INDAFIRE@BELLSOUTH.NET and golf tournament to Bill Marin at bill@pattersonstatebank.com.
For a complete schedule of events, visit the Cypress Sawmill Festival website at www.cypresssawmill.com.
Contact the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau at 985-380-8224, 800-256-2931 or visit www.cajuncoast.com/cypresssawmill.