By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

GARYVILLE – This weekend the grounds at San Francisco Plantation will once again be filled with food, crafts and fun as the plantation hosts the seventh annual Frisco Fest.

“It’s going to be a beautiful weekend,” said Kim Fontenot, general manager of San Francisco Plantation. And while she was referring to the weather in particular, one could easily sense her enthusiasm was not reserved for the mere meteorological.

She has plenty to be excited about.

As in years past, the Fest will feature over 130 craft booths, spanning every type of craft imaginable. This year’s booths will sell plants, handmade items such as quilts, yard signs and jewelry, clothes, wooden items, candles, toys and much more.

Of course, no festival in South Louisiana would be complete without great food, and the Frisco Fest is no exception. A variety of Cajun and Creole specialties as well as hamburgers and other festival-type food will be available throughout the weekend. And for the true foodies, Sunday will feature the Chef’s Choice Cook-Off.

The kids will also find plenty to do this year with bungee and gyro rides as well as pony rides and a kids’ art tent.

As in years past, the weekend will also include a car show, a one-mile and a five-kilometer run, live music from Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie and others and a bike tour.

Dubbed the “Prayers and Plantations” bike tour, the event this year has been expanded to include a 40-mile course that will take riders from San Francisco Plantation down River Road and deep into St. James Parish past some of the most beautiful churches in the region and ending at Poche Plantation in Convent.

Also new this year is a cracklin’ contest, to be held Saturday.

As always, the house will be open for tours at reduced rates all weekend long. Inspired by “Art in Bloom,” which is held at the New Orleans Museum of Art, Fontenot said the home will be filled with fresh flowers, creating a unique experience even for those who have already toured the plantation. “The house looks beautiful,” she said.

The festival, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, is made possible through sponsorships from many local businesses. This year some of the sponsors include Performance Contractors, ISC Constructors, Fluor, Turner Industries, the Shaw Corp., Safway and, as always, Marathon.

Fontentot will also be appearing on the ABC local morning show on the 6:15 a.m. segment to talk some more about the festival, and she should have no trouble filling the three-minute slot.

“It’s nice to see so many people on the grounds. You get to see old friends and meet new ones,” she said.

Schedule of Events

Saturday March 6th

7:30 a.m.

Check in for Prayers and Plantation ~ 25 mi. & 40 mi. Bike Tour

8:00 a.m.

Bike Tour Starts

9:00 a.m.

Crusin the Plantation Top 25 Car Show

Music by Rockin Ron

11:00 a.m.

Food Court Open get your tickets

Bikers Tent Open

11:30 a.m.

Cracklin Contest ready to serve

Awards for Bike Tour

12:30 p.m.

Louisiana Kids perform at One Room Schoolhouse

1:00 p.m.

Cracklin’ Contest Awards

3:00 p.m.

Judging for the Car Show

4:00 p.m.

Art Contest Winners Announced

Drawing for Door Prizes

Sunday March 7th

8:00 a.m.

Check in for Runners

7:30 a.m.

1- Mile Run Starts

8:00 a.m.

5k- Run Starts

Music by Rockin Ron

10:00 a.m.

Runners Tent Opens

10:30 a.m.

Runners Awards

11:00 a.m.

Chef’s Choice Cook-Off

Food Court Open

11:30 a.m.

Awards for Cook-Off

12:00 a.m.

Geno Delofose and the French Rockin Boogie

4:00 p.m.

Drawings for Door Prizes