Rayne's Frog Festival is underway

Bigger and better — that’s what Frog Festival officials are anticipating for this year’s celebration May 11-14 in the Frog Capital of the World.
That’ll be a daunting task considering last year’s festival was one of the biggest in its 43-year history.
Roy Credeur, chairman, and Jeremy Lavergne, co-chairman, say there will be more booths, more events and, yes, more frogs, at the 44th annual Frog Festival May 12-14.
“Two years ago we had 28 vendors (booths) at the festival,” Credeur said. “Last year we had 42 booth spaces rented and this year we have over 50.”
In addition, along with the fried frog legs offered annually by the Rayne Jaycees, “we’re going to have frog boudin, frog burgers and grilled frog legs,” Credeur added.
“There will be food items offered at the festival that we’ve never had before,” added Lavergne.
New events added to this year’s schedule will include:
•-an accordion contest, with a hand-crafted Richard Accordion, valued at $3,000, going to the winner in the Adult Division;
•-a frog leg eating contest where the participants are judged not only on the number of frog legs consumed, but on the etiquette with which they consume them;
•-a frog cook-off with sample bracelets available for festival-goers to taste the different recipes;
•-a Kids’ Zone, complete with a frog petting area, face painting, balloons and crafts for the younger festival goers;
•-an expanded dance contest, first introduced at last year’s festival.
Also new this year, the Rayne Beautification Board’s Arts and Crafts Show is being moved from the Civic Center onto the festival grounds.
“They told us their attendance was down last year and we offered them more exposure by being on the festival grounds,” explained Lavergne. “We’ve given them 38 spots and the Festival is not receiving any proceeds from either the rental of those spots of from sales there.”
Back is the signature Frog Racing and Jumping Contests with the unique “rent-a-frog” service offered by the Rayne Jaycees.
The Rayne Lions Club will once again crown a Frog Derby Queen at the conclusion of a contest that featured frogs dressed in unique costumes.
And, for the wee ones, the annual Diaper Derby will kick things off at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Lavergne, who also serves as chairman of the parade committee, reported that this year’s event will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday.
“We’ve lined up seven marching bands from as far away as Lake Charles,” Lavergne said. “To date we have about 50 entries set for the parade.”
Fran Bihm, Rotarian and executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, festival sponsors, noted that planning the Frog Festival is a year-long endeavor.
“The committee — about 25 volunteers — has been meeting since July of last year to get things in order,” she said, adding thanks to the city administration for “untold assistance.”
No festival is complete without good music and the Frog Festival will have an outstanding line-up of area talent on stage, starting Thursday night with High Performance from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring a guest appearance by iconic accordionist Belton Richard.
There will be no admission at the gate Thursday.
Friday activities begin at 5 p.m. when admission will be $5 with children 12 and under admitted free.
Travis Matte and the King Pins will perform from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a Zydeco Dance Contest at 6:30 p.m.
The Chee Weez take the stage by storm from 8 to 10 p.m. and the musical line-up ends that night with Chris Ardoin from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Music on Saturday will kick off at 11 a.m. with Peyton Broussard and Temporary Fix, a band comprised of 14- to 16-year-olds from the Rayne area.
At 3 p.m. will be the Swamp Pop Legends Review, featuring the talents of Warren Storm, Willie T., Charles Mann, Tommy McClain and T.K. Hulin.
Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners will perform from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition from 8 to 10 p.m.
Closing out this year’s Frog Festival will be Wayne Toups and Zydecajun from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Admission on Saturday is $5 with children 12 and under admitted free.