By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Despite the threat of rain throughout the weekend, crowds were still out in full force enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the 35th annual Andouille Festival. The festival kicked off Friday with great live music from the &#8220BCSN” Band and the Top Cats.

Julia Remondet, director of Economic Development for St. John the Baptist, and the woman in charge of the yearly sausage celebration, believes in the old adage of &#8220if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

&#8220This fair is so successful like it is,” said Remondet. She said participation from non-profits looking to raise funds for their charity work was a popular as it has ever been.

Skies stayed overcast for most of the weekend thanks to a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico, but it certainly did not stop the record crowds from pouring onto the grounds of the Percy Hebert Building.

&#8220We had about 19,000 people walk through the gates all weekend, which surpasses our numbers from last year,” said Remondet. &#8220The rain threat was there, but it was not as bad as we initially thought it would be.”

Remondet said the festival hit a record for attendance with 5320 people coming out for Saturday, the most for any day ever.

The festivities were pushed up a month to accommodate for a scheduling conflict associated with fall elections in October, but it did not affect the level of participation from the assortment of groups wanting to be involved.

&#8220People look forward to it,” said Remondet. &#8220It’s a tradition, and it is supported no matter what the date. We certainly missed the cooler weather of October, but we managed well.”

Remondet said the cooking contest, held on Saturday, was won by Trina Pellissier of LaPlace who cooked a traditional chicken and andouille gumbo. She said the two fun runs, held Sunday morning, were also well attended.