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Arts & Entertainment

Local artists abound in the River Region Art Association located in Gonzales. Ascension Community Theater, the local arts theater, offers outstanding performing arts entertainment as well as arts training, nurturing individual talents and inspiring dreams.

By just a short 25-minute drive to downtown Baton Rouge, one can find even more entertainment opportunities. The Shaw Center for the Arts houses the Louisiana State University Art Museum and the Manship Theater brings everything from comedians to multi-talented musicians from all over the U.S. The Baton Rouge Symphony is Louisiana’s oldest, continuously performing orchestra, presenting world-renowned concert artists, a “kindermusic” series for children and family concert series.

Ascension Community Theatre
Ascension Community Theatre (ACT) located in Gonzales, is a volunteer organization that produces three main-stage plays per year at the historic Pasqua Theatre. The ACT’s three-fold mission has been to, “foster an appreciation of drama, learn the crafts associated with it and promote culture within the community.”

“Gala Dinner Theatre” July 25 & 26
“The Crucible” November 5-8, 12-14

For more information please call 225-647-1230 or visit www.ascensioncommunitytheatre.org.

River Region Art Gallery
1835 N. Magnolia Avenue
Gonzales, LA 70737
Contact: Donna Braud
Phone: (225) 673-6816
artgumbomarket@yahoo.com
www.artgumbo.org
Hours: Tues. – Sat. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission: None Tour Length: browsing/no limit to time/buses welcome Group Size (Min./Max.): no limit

The River Region Art Gallery features a “GUMBO” of original artworks by all Louisiana artists displaying fine art, folk art, jewelry, photography, and unique gift ideas. Special theme shows occur monthly, in addition to over 90 Louisiana artists exhibiting. River Region artists present an Awesome Art Extravaganza featuring over 140 artisans, held annually in the Autumn Gardens of Houmas House Plantation every second weekend of October.

Alvin Batiste
Rossie’s Custom Framing at 510 Railroad Avenue, Donaldsonville, LA
Contact: David Imbraguglio
Phone: (225) 473-8536
rossimbraguglio@aol.com
www.alvinbatiste.com
Hours: Tues. – Fri. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Admission: No Tour Length: 30 min./No limit Group Size (Min./Max.): No Limitations

The history of generations along the Mississippi River finds expression in the brush strokes of Alvin Batiste, self-taught, primitive artist, whose work has been critically acclaimed. Visitors may watch the artist at work, browse the gallery, commission and/or purchase original paintings.

To Be Announced
Sunshine Festival
Donaldsonville Fair Grounds, Donaldsonville
Contact: Donaldsonville Chamber of Commerce
Phone: (225) 473-4814

This annual festival hosts live entertainment, a carnival with large midway rides and lots of Cajun food and music.

OCTOBER 9-11, 2009
Boucherie Festival
Reynolds Lambert Park Ascension Civic Center, Sorrento
Contact: Fern Barnett
Phone: (225) 675-8515
www.eatel.net/~fred/boucheri

This annual festival celebrates the “Cajun Boucherie” with activities including the “Crackling Cooking World Championship” competition, dancing to live music, a pageant, Cajun food and rides.

OCTOBER 24 & 25, 2009
Cajun Village Oktoberfest
Cajun Village, Sorrento
Contact: Judy Starrett
Phone: (225) 675-5572
www.thecajunvillage.com.

“Let’s Pass a Good Time Cajun Style.” Come celebrate Cajun culture with authentic music, dancing, arts and crafts, and of course, Cajun cuisine. A festival devoted to beautiful art and hands-on experiences.

DECEMBER 13, 2009
Ascension Christmas Parade
Downtown Gonzales
Contact: Ascension Chamber of Commerce
Phone: (225) 647-7487

Over 100 floats, Santa Claus, bands, beauty queens and civic groups stimulate the Christmas spirits of both young and old. Sponsored by the Ascension Chamber of Commerce and located in the streets of Downtown Gonzales.

MAY 20-23, 2010
Jambalaya Festival
Irma Boulevard, Gonzales
Contact: Jambalaya Festival Association
Phone: (225) 647-2937
www.jambalayafestival.org.

One of the largest festivals in the state, featuring many activities, which highlight the diverse heritage and cultures of the area, including live music, stage shows, arts and crafts, rides and of course Jambalaya. The main event of the festival is a high-intensity cook-off among some of the world’s greatest Jambalaya chefs.

What Is Jambalaya?

Similar in many ways to Spanish paella, the term jambalaya is derived from the Spanish jamon for ham. It is pronounced <jahm-buh-LIE-uh> or <jum-buh-LIE-uh>. Jambalaya found its way into Creole cookery in the late 1700s where it soon took on the flavor of added local ingredients.

There are other stories of the jambalaya myth, but the favorite comes from Webster’s dictionary, which defines the word as French Louisiana for a mixture of diverse elements.

What is jambalaya? Today it is a Cajun/Creole dish made from a mixture of meats, rice and seasonings blended to produce a delicious dish. It can be made (separately or all together) with ham, chicken, sausage, fresh pork, shrimp and oysters, to which is added shortening, rice, onion, garlic, pepper and other seasonings.

Starting with church fairs, which were the largest public gatherings at the turn of the century, jambalaya emerged from small quantity indoor cooking to become the ideal dish for outdoor cooking over hardwood fires. Big black cast iron pots made preparation so easy and economical for church use that jambalaya was rapidly adapted for political rallies, weddings, family reunions and other affairs. No fair or political rally around Gonzales is complete without jambalaya cooking.

The Jambalaya Festival and World Champion Jambalaya Cooking contest is held annually in Gonzales, Louisiana.

Jambalaya is economical to prepare and can be cooked in a one-quart pot indoors or in a 30- gallon black pot.

Jambalaya cooking is an art that must be perfected to acquire a superb blend of flavor with proper consistency. Area cooks practice continually to perfect jambalaya that will win the title of world champion. As you might imagine, competition is keen as many cooks vie for this prestigious title.

Many champions have cooked at other festivals, for foreign leaders as well as presidents of the United States. Gonzales is the “Jambalaya Capital of the World.”