By Jeffra Wise DeViney

The 63rd Louisiana Fur & Wildlife Festival honoring the Shrimping Industry, kicked off this past weekend, starting with Little Mr. and Miss Cameron Parish and Miss Cameron Parish Pageants, held at South Cameron High School on Thursday, Jan. 6.

Dog Trials were held on Friday morning, Jan. 7, in the Sweetlake area. At 5 p.m., gates to Lake Charles’ Burton Complex opened with free admission to craft/food booths and carnival rides began.

Gumbo Cook-off participants arrived early Saturday morning to get prepped, set up and “get their gumbo-mojo” started. Teams were set up in Burton Livestock Exhibit Barn area.

Antique vehicles were showcased in the complex parking lot. Attendees enjoyed gumbo tasting, food/craft booths and watching the traditional fur skinning/oyster shucking contests as well as a trap setting demonstration.

Later that afternoon judges had compiled their results from the gumbo cook-off and events moved to the Burton Coliseum for announcements and presentation of winners, introductions of Festival Royalty and a great venue of live entertainment, which continued throughout the evening featuring: Junior LaCrosse, Steel Shot, Geno Lafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, The Beau Young Band and Wayne Toups.

Other events held Saturday were the 5K Run/One Mile Fun Walk at the Lake Charles Airport area; and the Duck/Goose Calling was held at LSU Extension Office, lovated next to Burton Complex.