CD/DVD premier party leads Main to Main festivities

The City of Eunice’s annual Main to Main activities this week and next include the world premier of a CD and DVD that share the story of Cajun and Creole music in Louisiana.
The premiere-release party for From One Generation to the Next is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park on Park Avenue.
Saturday and Saturday, Nov, 16 are filled with special activities celebrating Main Street. A highlight is the annual Noel on the Prairie shopping extravaganza (see Page 6A-7A for details).
Both Saturday’s begin with the annual city-wide garage sale downtown.
From One Generation to the Next grew out of the interest shown by Prairie Acadian Cultural Center visitors in the musical heritage of south Louisiana.
 The center’s National Park Service rangers are also musicians and longtime local residents who understand the power of music when telling a story. The CD features local musicians playing traditional Cajun and Creole tunes; an enclosed booklet shares the origins of each song and explains its place in Louisiana music history.
The DVD includes interviews with the musicians, concentrating on how they learned to play Cajun and Creole music and especially on how it has passed from one generation to the next, keeping its musical integrity while incorporating new sounds and techniques.
Admission to the premier party and to a Cajun music jam at 3 p.m. and a reception featuring Acadian syrup cake at 4 p.m. is free.
The From One Generation to the Next All-Stars, including Sheryl Cormier, Reggie Matte, Briggs Brown, and Goldman Thibodeaux, will play at Rendez-vous des Cajuns, the weekly live music show at the Liberty Theater hosted by the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center and the City of Eunice. The show starts at 6 p.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $5 and are available at the door.
From One Generation to the Next was funded by a grant from the National Park Service Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative, which promotes tourism to and understanding of the places, cultures, and history of the lower Mississippi River delta.
From One Generation to the Next CDs and DVDs will be provided free to area schools; CDs will be on sale at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center bookstore beginning Saturday and also available at the premiere at Rendez-vous des Cajuns.

The Main to Main schedule:
Nov. 9
7 a.m. Garage Sale, downtown Park Avenue Blvd. median
10 a.m. Farmer’s Market/ Arts and Crafts, Baked goods/plant sale - in downtown
Jean Lafitte Cutlural Center, Lyn Fontenot’s Art Exhibit “Flowers”, and Deacon David Guillory’s Arrowhead display.
Eunice Public Library, Children’s activities and book sale.
1950s music provided by KEUN Radio Station and Rick Nesbitt.
BBQ and refreshments will be sold to benefit the Carron Cemetery Family Alliance
10 a.m.: Four museums opened, Cajun French Music Hall of Fame, Eunice Depot Museum, Eunice Nutcracker Museum, and Jean Lafitte Cultural Center.

Nov. 16
7 a.m. Garage Sale, downtown Park Avenue Blvd. median
10 a.m. Farmer’s Market/ Arts and Crafts, Baked goods/plant sale - in downtown
Jean Lafitte Cutlural Center, Lyn Fontenot’s Art Exhibit “Flowers”, and Deacon David Guillory’s Arrowhead display
Damian Cuccio Studio, Art Lessons by Vivian Broussard and Haidee Derouen
1950s music provided by KEUN Radio Station and Rick Nesbitt
Eunice Depot Museum, Open Acoustic Jam Session, bring your own instrument
Eunice Public Library, Children’s activities and book sale
Eunice City Hall, Vintage Car Show by John R. Young
10 a.m. Four Museums opened, Cajun French Music Hall of Fame, Eunice Depot Museum, Eunice Nutcracker Museum, and Jean Lafitte Cultural Center
11:45 a.m. Silver Belles Dance Group performance at Eunice City Hall
12 noon, Old Tyme BBQ at City Hall parking lot, provided by St. Landry Fire District 6 volunteers
1:30 p.m. Cafe Mosaic, Suzuki Strings Music by Nancy Simon-Suzuki Strings
3 p.m. a music program at the Jean Lafitte Cultural Center
3 p.m. Wine and Cheese Social at the Nutcracker Museum
6 p.m. at the Liberty Theater, “Rendez-vous Des Cajuns” Radio & TV show, with Babineaux Sisters with Mayo Gaspard, general admission $5. Ticket window opens at 4 p.m.

For more information on all acitivities, call 457-6503, or-457-7389, or go to www.eunice-la.com