Rain doesn’t dampen festival weekend

A downpour Saturday afternoon caused a delay in music and some brief flooding around the U.S. 90 bridge in Morgan City, but most Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival weekend events went on as scheduled.
The festival wraps up today with several musical acts from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and carnival rides from noon to 9 p.m. Vendors will still be on hand today as well.
Beau Young Band only played about 45 minutes late of its scheduled 2-hour set Saturday afternoon due to the rain in Lawrence Park, Festival Director Darby Isham said. Festival organizers put two and a half pallets of mulch around the festival grounds at Lawrence Park to make the grounds less muddy, Isham said.
Standing water also built up Saturday around Federal Avenue under the U.S. 90 bridge, Morgan City Police Capt. Teddy Liner said. No motorists were affected, though, as that area was only open to pedestrian traffic during the festival.
The flooding “just kind of all of a sudden came out of nowhere” Saturday afternoon when the heavy downpour hit, Isham said. Only one vendor booth had merchandise damaged by the water coming off the U.S. 90 bridge.
Morgan City Public Works Supervisor Jean Paul Bourg said the standing water Saturday was probably caused by a combination of water running off of the bridge and the heavy downpour. Standing water subsided immediately after the rain slacked, Bourg said.
On Sunday, the rain wasn’t as heavy but did cause four or five marching bands not to be able to participate in the street parade, Isham said. The rest of the parade went on as scheduled.
Sunday morning’s Mass in Lawrence Park was moved to Holy Cross Catholic Church. The Blessing of the Fleet went on as scheduled on the Berwick side of the Atchafalaya River.
Police had to shut down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from La. 182 to Victor II Boulevard Saturday afternoon due to standing water in the roadway. Liner said this morning that the festival has been “pretty quiet” so far in regard to any incidents.”
A 60 percent chance of thunderstorms was in the forecast for today as well. The Arts & Crafts Show and Sale will go from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today. Pay-one-price ride bracelets are available for $25 at the carnival today.
The following lists today’s music schedule in Lawrence Park:
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Jus Cuz
1:30-3:30 p.m. Ponchartrain Wrecks
4-6 p.m. Ross Grisham
6:30-8:30 p.m. Don Rich