While Jazz Fest raged on in New Orleans, Festival International de Louisiane was celebrating its 20th year in Lafayette.
The free festival, held Thursday through Sunday, celebrated music, art and culture from around the world. There were several stages showcasing international music, and many booths selling handmade art such as ceramics, paintings and statues. Performers included artists who ranged from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, a New Orleans brass band, to Le Trou Normand, a French dance band.
Anne Darrah, a folk musician and the graphic designer for the festival, said the original idea for Festival International entailed a much smaller festival, but it has grown since then.
“It started as a few people who had an idea to celebrate music and art,” Darrah said. “Now, it [has been] rated as one of the top-10 festivals in the world – though I can’t remember where – and we truly believe it.”
Darrah said she got involved with the festival early on simply by going. But eight years ago after her children went off to college, she began to play folk music with her husband. She is also the graphic designer for the festival, designing the logo and all the pins, banners and T-shirts.
Jerilyn Guidry LaVergne, a two-year veteran of Festival and last year’s best-in-show winner, sells wind chimes out of her booth. Best in show is an award given to the best vendor. LaVergne said she began a life in art by designing mosaics.
“I had always wanted to do something creative,” LaVergne said. “Now, I have a working studio out of my house in Sunset.”
LaVergne said she plans to return to the festival for many years to come.
Charles R. Crossley, a Mississippi-born, California-raised artist who has been working for 47 years, said he began creating art as a boy.
“I was a young man, and in my early life a person who didn’t want to do anything but draw,” Crossley said. “I was always in the process of making something.”
Crossley has always enjoyed selling his art at the festival, but this year it was a bit different.
“This fest has had a very positive crowd of people who were interested in art,” Crossley said. “I just haven’t seen that enthusiasm [for art] this year.”
One unexpected problem this year was strong winds on Saturday. The heavy wind knocked over all the microphones on the pavilion where Darrah and her husband were playing.
“All the mics fell down at one point, so we just played in the crowd,” Darrah said.
Darrah said the wind was causing a lot of disruption at the festival.
“They said there are tornadoes in Houston, so it should get bad tonight, but it will be fine by tomorrow,” Darrah said. “It will be fine. People will go to drink in bars for a bit and come out with smiles on.”
Darrah said she was not at all worried about the brewing storm because the people at the festival are extremely friendly.
“I find it a very friendly and family-oriented festival,” Darrah said.
As for the future of Festival International, Darrah only had one idea of how it will turn out.
“They’re always going to keep it free,” Darrah said.
Even with the wind knocking over microphones, wind chimes blaring and ceramic bowls breaking, most agreed the festival turned out to be a success.
“Everybody smiles,” Darrah said.
 
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