The oldest chartered harvest festival in the Bayou State is underway in St. Mary Parish. Morgan City hosts the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival every year to recognize some of their economic staples.

Director of the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival Darby Radcliffe says the festival began in 1936 after an historic fishing day.
“When the first jumbo shrimp catch was brought into the port of Morgan City, the fishermen and the trappers, they paraded the streets and ended with a big party. Back then it was the first shrimp festival.”

The festival provides a variety of food and Radcliffe says any shrimp enthusiast has plenty of options.

“One of the favorites around here is shrimp on a stick. You can either get that fried or grilled or baked. You can get boiled shrimp, you can get shrimp etouffée, shrimp fettuccini, all kinds of different ways.”

The festival will feature a variety of activities like fireworks, a street parade, and a children’s village with inflatables and games on the weekend. Radcliffe says despite the seafood and oil industries facing trouble in the past the festival is getting a big win in sponsorship as Frito Lay is bringing an exclusive chip for visitors to sample.

“They launched eight new flavors and we are one of the locations that they will be sampling their new Cajun Spice flavor.”

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