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| Back to Index | Published on 9/23/98 Archived on 9/23/98 |
57th Sugarcane Festival opens today By DIONNE JOHNSON NEW IBERIA - How sweet it is to celebrate 57 years of the Louisiana Sugarcane Festival. The annual event kicks off at 5 p.m. today with the Mitchell Brothers Street Fair on Admiral Doyle Drive. Opening day at the fair offers a discounted rate on all rides. Some of the festival’s highlights take place Thursday with the king’s reception at LeTriomphe Country Club. This year’s King Sucrose LVII is Branan Beyt. A native of St. Martinville and resident of New Iberia for 28 years, Beyt was chief engineer at the Iberia Sugar Cooperative for 16 years before joining the St. Mary Sugar Cooperative in Jeanerette in 1978. He is the cooperative’s general manager. The selection of the king is made annually by the American Sugarcane League in conjunction with the Louisiana Sugarcane Festival and Fair Association. Festivities go into high gear Friday as the community celebrates Farmer’s Day. Local leaders will don their boots, bandannas, overalls and checkered shirts at work this day in honor of the sugarcane farmers. All public schools are closed for the day, and New Iberia Mayor Ruth Fontenot announced Tuesday that city government offices will also be closed Friday. Also Friday, the community is invited to attend a 9 a.m. Mass and blessing of the crop at the Louisiana Sugarcane Festival Building in New Iberia City Park. Throughout the remainder of the weekend, festival-goers can watch the Children's Parade as it rolls down Main Street and witness the coronation of Queen Sugar LVII. This year’s event concludes Sunday following the Louisiana Sugarcane Growers and Processors Parade at 2 p.m. Mayor Ruth Fontenot will serve as grand marshal. |
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