Good Times Will Roll on the Bayou

Louisiana

Festival Acadiens 2000, Sept. 15-17 in Lafayette, is actually a series of festivals--a weekend filled with Cajun and zydeco music and authentic Cajun and Creole cooking. The fun begins with a concert by Mouton Noir followed by Beausoleil. Also on the schedule: Feu Follet (all-kids’ band), Les Traiteurs (an all-star group). At La Vie Cadienne Wetlands Folklife Festival, visitors can meet fishermen, shrimpers and wetlands specialists who share their knowledge and stories of the waterways. The Bayou Food Festival features soft-shell crab po-boys, crawfish jambalaya and offbeat items such as seafood quesadillas. Kids can churn butter and make corncob dolls. For more information, contact the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, P.O. Box 52066, Lafayette, LA 70505; telephone (800) 346-1958, Internet https://www.cajunhot.com.

New York

The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area hosts a walking festival Sept. 23 and 24, featuring 70 guided walks on some of the more than 3,000 miles of trails of the 10-county area that extends from just north of New York City to Albany. Participants will hike paved rail trails, city sidewalks, rugged ridges, carriage roads and nature paths. Highlights include tracing a Revolutionary War path to a fort near West Point, climbing to a spot in the Catskills that inspired artists of the Hudson River School and walking the French Huguenot streets of New Paltz. For more information, contact High Land Flings Footloose Holidays, P.O. Box 1034, Kingston, NY 12402; tel. (800) 453-6665, Internet https://www.highlandflings.com/

Maine

Maine’s Windjammer Fleet lands in the picturesque seaside village of Camden for a Labor Day weekend filled with waterfront activities Sept. 1-4. Up to 20 ships are expected to arrive at high tide on Sept. 1, under full sail and in full regalia. Other events include the blessing of the fleet, lobster-crate races, fireworks, knot-tying demonstrations, windjammer crew talent show and the annual screening of “Captains Courageous” at the Bayview Street Cinema. For more information, contact the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 919, Camden, ME 04843; tel. (207) 236-4404, Internet https://www.camdenme.org.

Kentucky

Nelson County, where much of the world’s bourbon is made, takes its livelihood seriously. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Sept. 13-17 in Bardstown, finds ways to link the liquor to more than 30 events. There’s a barrel relay (in which contestants roll 500-pound bourbon barrels), bourbon tastings and cook-offs, a demonstration of barrel-making by master coopers, and the Bourbon Olympics (events include racing with full trays and creating new drinks). For more information, contact the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, P.O. Box 867, Bardstown, KY 40004; tel. (800) 638-4877, Internet https://www.kybourbonfestival.com.

Pennsylvania

The Mushroom Festival, Sept. 9 and 10 in Kennett Square, celebrates the cultivated mushroom: buttons, oysters, shiitake and portabellos. Tour mushroom farms, learn how mushrooms are raised and find some new recipes. Also: antique car show, block party with a live swing band, tours of historic areas, the national mushroom cook-off contest and a farmers market with plenty of mushrooms for sale. Kennett Square is 35 miles south of Philadelphia. For more information, contact the Mushroom Festival, P.O. Box 1000, Kennett Square, PA 19348; tel. (888) 440-9920, Internet https://www.mushroomfest.com.

Utah

The eighth season of the Moab Music Festival, Sept. 2-17, combines great music and spectacular settings. Several classical music concerts take place in the desert at the red rock formations of Fisher Towers. Others, including a sunset concert featuring cowboy, pioneer and mountain man music, are planned for Pack Creek Ranch with the LaSal Mountains as backdrop. The finale is a jazz concert at old City Park. Picnickers are welcome at all concerts. For more information, contact the Moab Music Festival, 59 S. Main St., Suite 3, Moab, UT 84532; tel. (435) 259-7003, Internet https://www.moabmusicfest.org.

Spain

Fiesta de la Merced, Sept. 24 in Barcelona, celebrates St. George, the patron saint of the city, with street performances, fireworks and open-air dancing. The highlight is the parade of giants. Many events take place at Placa Sant Jaume. For more information, contact the Tourist Office of Spain, 8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 956, Beverly Hills, CA 90211; tel. (323) 658-7192, Internet https://www.okspain.org.