Imagine Acadiana without festivals. Between 2020 and 2021, we nearly got a taste of that reality. And for the most part it wasn’t pleasant.
Gathering is a big part of the culture here. So when Covid made getting together dangerous, it also threatened a way of life.
Festivals did what they could to keep the tradition alive. Going virtual was a workable substitute in a pinch, but the lift was still costly and the digital copy just couldn’t compare with the real thing.
Christiaan’s guests today navigated Acadiana’s largest annual gatherings through two straight years of pivots.
Scott Feehan has been Executive Director of Festival International since 2015. Scott’s day job is in IT, but he’s been a cultural entrepreneur going on two decades now. If you grew up playing in rock and roll bands in Acadiana you might know Scott as the drum shop guy. Or as the man behind Lafayette’s School of Rock.
Pat Mould runs programming and development for Festivals Acadians et Creoles. He’s the man in charge of what happens at the festival and, crucially, who pays for it.
Pat is a renowned chef who’s made a big mark in bringing Cajun cuisine into fine dining, and he’s also the interim general manager of KRVS, the voice of Cajun and Zydeco music and the home of Out to Lunch Acadiana.
Out to Lunch Acadiana is recorded live over lunch at Tula Tacos and Amigos in downtown Lafayette. You can see photos from this show by Astor Morganat our website. And check out Scott Feehan’s take on the festival scene from inside the Covid bubble.