Cajun Festival
Medina Lake
WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL
MEDINA LAKE CAJUN FESTIVAL WEB SITE
Sponsored by
The Medina Lake Betterment Association
Creating Cajun Fun For 33 Years!
1981
2013
2013 marks the 33rd annual Medina Lake Cajun Festival that was born in 1980 as the Great Gumbo Coofoff. In late 1980, the board of directors were desperately seeking a fund-raiser to keep afloat the Medina Lake Betterment Association, Inc., a non profit civic organization. Funds were needed to pay the mortgage on the building and for community improvement programs.
The usual barbecues and chili cookoffs were discussed, until a strange
Cajun accent suggested from the back of the room "Why not do someting
different? How about a gumbo cookoff?" This odd recommendation was
that of a recent transplant from New Orleans, local attorney Bob Caswell.
The result was the birth of the first Great Gumbo Cookoff, bravely
held on the fourth Saturday in September, 1981.
Despite skepticism by many, the directors, members and local residents plowed ahead diligently and each year the festival grew. In 1990, the name was changed to the Medina Lake Cajun Festival. The festival has now received State and National recognition as one of the finest festivals of its kind. The wide variety of authentic Cajun food, the finest Cajun bands from Louisiana, as well as the ever popular gumbo cookoff attract thousands of visitors each year. The accomplishments have been achieved by the hard working efforts of hundreds of volunteers over the years.
As the French would say, celebrate "La joie de vivre." Life has its heartbreaks and sadness, but for one day put your problems aside to have fun. It's the Cajun way of life. One more bit of French wisdom, "Laissez les Bon Temps rouler!" Americans know it as "Let The Good Times Roll!"
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A Brief History Of Fun - Medina Lake Cajun Festival That Is
You May Pause,Stop and Start Audio
Show Stopping Cajun-Zydeco Music, Fun and Revelry
Great Family Entertainment!
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1912 - 2012
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE BUILDING OF MEDINA LAKE DAM
The Number 1 Cajun Festival In Texas!
Cajun Festival Founder Cajun Bob Caswell
Website Designed By Rite Price Websites www.ritepricewebsites.com © 2013 Cajun Festival - Medina Lake
September 28, 2013 11 am - 10 pm
Cajun Bob May Be Reached At 830-751-3130
Featured Artist
Leroy Thomas
and The Zydeco RoadRunners
Leroy Thomas (The Jewel Of The Bayou) was born in 1965 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. At the age of 8, Leroy was learning how to play drums on five gallon paint buckets. Leroy recalls that he found out that a man in town had an accordion for sale. He grabbed one his dad's cassette players and aked the man would if he would trade. Leroy played the accordion all the way home down a gravel road in Elton, Louisiana. At the age of 19, Leroy joined his father's band (Leo Thomas and His Louisiana Zydeco Band). Together they rocked crowds at every performance. He later moved to Houston where he held different jobs but still continued to play the accordion. Father and son toured the World with their music. Leroy decided to build up his own name and formed his current band. Leroy's hero was Clifton Chenier, the king of Zydeco because Clifton would mix rhythm and blues in his music. Over the years some Zydeco artists have added elements of funk, country and rock into zydeco but Leroy never forgot the core music he was raised with. Leroy is a very friendly, professional person and makes him popular with fans. The band members are: Leroy Thomas: Accordion and lead vocals, Raymond Bilbo: Bass Guitar and vocal, Ronnie Rue: Lead Guitar and vocal, Gerard St. Julien Jr : Drums, and Nicholas Delafoisse: Rubboard and vocal. What Is Zydeco Music? Check Out Page 2 Entertainment Schedule for a definition of Zydeco.
Music and photos courtesy of Leroy Thomas
