NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 20, 2011
Michelle Fontenot Thistlethwaite Selected as Opelousas Spice & Music Festival Poster Artist
 |
 |
(Opelousas, LA) – Michelle Fontenot-Thistlethwaite is the local artist who created the Opelousas Spice & Music Festival’s 2011 official poster. The festival takes place June 2-5, 2011 at South City Park in historic Opelousas.
Fontenot-Thistlethwaite works in stained glass art, but is not limited to any form of creativity. She says she is inspired by the world around her which poses questions to her every day. Some of her art works have been seen at Sans Souci Gallery, Festivals International, Festivals Acadian, Blue Moon Saloon and Guesthouse, Mid-City Art Market, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Gallery 549 in Lafayette, and Artsquest Fine Arts Festival in Seaside, Florida.
The festival would like to thank Bodemuller the Printer for their sponsorship support with the 2011 Opelousas Spice & Music Festival Poster. In addition to the festival, this year’s poster is available for purchase at the Opelousas Tourist Center and Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, June 4, 2011 beginning at 11:00 a.m., the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center will host an opening exhibit reception in honor of the festival artist, Michelle Fontenot. Fontenot’s art works will be displayed at the museum until the end of July.
The Spice & Music Festival will kick-off with a Hot Wheels Bike Parade on Thursday, June 2, beginning at 6 p.m. from South City Park. That same evening carnival rides will begin. Pre-sale carnival ride tickets are available at the City of Opelousas Tourist Information Center and are priced at $1 per ticket. The pre-sale tickets offer a half-off discount. Pre-sale tickets will be on sale until Thursday June 2, 2011. For more information contact Angela at 337-948-7179. The City of Opelousas Tourist Information Center is located at 828 E. Landry Street across for Mikey’s Donuts.
The 7th annual Opelousas Spice & Music Festival is scheduled for June 2-5 in historic Opelousas. The event offers a unique three day celebration showcasing the area’s authentic Cajun and Creole culture. A special blend of musical performances are scheduled throughout the festival event including Geno Delafose, Chris Ardoin, Jeffery Broussard, Leon Chavis, Cupid, Matthew Ewing & Fueling Fire, Warren Storm, Willie Tee and Cyprus, Chubby Carriere, Percy Sledge and more. On Saturday, international Cajun fiddler Hadley Castille will present a uniquely different Fiddle Workshop & Jam Session nearby at the Opelousas Little Theatre building. The fiddle based event will feature an ensemble of outstanding female fiddlers and musicians. Included in the event are Anya Schoenegge Burgess of Bon Soir Catin, Jane Vidrine of the Magnolia Sisters, Gina Forsyth of Bruce Daigrepont & Friends, Esther Tyree Mertz, founder of Acadiana Fiddles and Strings and of the Acadiana Symphony, and Sarah Jayde Williams of Hadley Castille & Friends. Rounding out the fiddlers will be Christine Balfa of Bon Soir Catin on guitar and Yvette Landry on bass.
And of course, the Spice & Music Festival will offer Cajun and Creole food lovers plenty of mouthwatering dishes including entrees like alligator sausage, jambalaya, fried catfish and more. In addition to great music and mouthwatering food, the festival will include activities such as Arts & Crafts vendors, Cajun and Creole Cooking Demonstrations, a Cajun and Zydeco Dance Contest, Pepper Eating Contest, and Queen’s Bar-B-Que Cook-Off.
South City Park is located at 1524 S. Market Street, Opelousas, LA and is easy to access from Interstate I-49 and Hwy 190. There is plenty of free parking in designated parking areas where shuttles will run to and from the festival. These areas include the Opelousas Civic Center on Creswell Lane Ext., Andy’s Supermarket on Hwy 182 North next to Chicken King, and the former Rite-Aid parking lot located next to Piggly Wiggly on Heather Drive. RV accommodations are also available at South City Park.
This year’s Opelousas Spice & Music Festival sponsors include: Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, SLEMCO, Savoie Foods, Wal-Mart, Cleco, CenterPoint Energy, Louisiana Lottery, Quik Quarter, Opelousas General Health System, Louisiana Office of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, IESI, Raising Canes, St. Landry Parish Recycling, St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission, Zydeco Online, Snap 103.7, KSLO Radio, Kool 107.1 and Bodemuller the Printer.
For more information about the 2011 Opelousas Spice & Music Festival, call (337) 948-5227 or (337) 948-6263.
.
