LAPLACE — We’re days away from the biggest party St. John the Baptist Parish has to offer.

The 43rd Annual Andouille Festival presented by Marathon Petroleum Company starts Friday and lasts all weekend.

This year’s festival includes a second line, the Andouille Jazz Brunch, The Andouille Run, Dang Douille Eating Contest, Andouille Cook-off and more at Thomas F. Daley Memorial Park, located at 2900 U.S. 51 in LaPlace.

The fun starts with discounted prices and a wonderful opportunity to help out a local charity. Bring a canned food item to the admission gate Friday and pay an admission price of just $1. The donated canned goods will be provided to St. John Ministry of Care.

Friday night fun also includes Teen Night with the help of DJ LG, who is performing from 9 to 11 p.m.

Saturday’s fun includes the first-ever Andouille Festival Car and Bike Show in the parking lot of St. John Parish Library from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry Fee is $10. Visit www.andouillefestival.com.

To register for the Andouille Gumbo Cook-Off Saturday, call 985-652-9569 or visit www.andouillefestival.com. Chef Jeff Henderson will be a judge for the Contest and lead a cooking demonstration at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Henderson is a television personality, a public speaker and mentor, as well as the first black man to serve as executive chef at the Bellagios and a New York Times best-selling author.

As a California native, he’s worked his way up in the world of culinary arts. In 2001, Chef Jeff was named Las Vegas Chef of the Year by the American Tasting Institute. Chef Jeff‘s commitment to culinary arts are not restricted to the kitchen. In 2007, his memoir, “Cooked,” provided him with the opportunity to appear on “Oprah” and launch his reality show “The Chef Jeff Project.” His show gave disadvantaged youth the opportunity to learn life and professional skills in a private dining kitchen. Most recently, Chef Jeff released his first self-help book, “If You Can See It, You Can Be It.”

“I am eager and humbled with the opportunity to put my skills to the test at the Andouille Festival,” he said. “Louisiana’s food and culture are very rich. I am ready to see if I can prove my west-coast skills in the deep south.”

Cook-Off registration is open to the public. Participants can begin as early as 9 a.m. on Saturday with set up and preparation to serve their andouille gumbo. Judging is based on taste, aftertaste, aroma, appearance and consistency. Awards will be presented to 1st place, 2nd place, 3rd place and the people’s choice. Judging will take place at 5 p.m. A downloadable registration form is available at www.andouillefestival.com. Submit this form along with payment to the Economic Development Department located at 1801 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace to participate.

The Second Line Parade begins at 2:30 p.m. and the Dang Douille Eating Contest starts at 3:30 p.m. Call 985- 652-9569 to register.

The 38th Annual Andouille Run gets things going early Sunday with an 8 a.m. start, followed by the Jazz Brunch from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

This year’s music lineup includes Amanda Shaw & The Cute Guys, Gina Brown & Anutha Level, Image, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, Karma, New Birth Brass Band, Category 6 and plenty more.

Completing a jammed-packed weekend is the great food cooked with andouille.

Festival posters are available at the St. John Parish Economic Development Department, Matherne’s Supermarket in LaPlace, Don’s Country Store and Greg’s Neighborhood Market in Reserve.

Pay-One-Price Ride Bracelets allow unlimited rides for one day or the entire festival weekend. Advanced weekend Pay-One-Price Ride Bracelets are $50 and advanced single day passes are $25.

The Andouille Festival presented by Marathon Petroleum Company, LP is sponsored by EuroChem, Denka Performance Elastomer, Entergy, Gulf South Pipeline, Reserve Telecommunications, Pin Oak Terminals, AAB Electrical Industries, Inc., ACT Technologies, Digital Engineering, Humana, Metro Service Group, Nalco Champion Ochsner Health System and Riverlands Insurance Services, Inc.

For more information, please visit www.andouillefestival.com. Follow the Andouille Festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/andouillefestival.