44th Frog Festival a ‘great success’

The weather was great, the frogs were plentiful and the attendance was near — if not — record-setting for this past weekend’s 44th annual Rayne Frog Festival.
“It was very successful ... more so than last year’s,” a still-exhausted Roy Credeur, overall chairman, said Monday morning.
“We had great weather, a great turnout and an overall great time,” he added.
Credeur said officials have not yet added up all the proceeds — nor have they received all the bills — but by all indications, the festival also was a financial success for the Chamber of Commerce.
Fran Bihm, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, added special thanks to the many volunteers who make up the Frog Festival Committee.
“After a year of meetings and preparations, the committee deserves congratulations,” she said.
“I also want to thank the many, many people who attended this year’s festival and helped to make it the best in recent memory.”
Though the Mitchell Brothers and Sons Amusement Carnival opened for “Family Night” on Wednesday, the Festival held official opening ceremonies just after 5 p.m. on Thursday.
High Performance provided the opening musical entertainment and brought a sizeable crowd to the festival, many of whom participated in the Waltz and Jitterbug Dance Contests.
On Friday, the festival re-opened at 5 p.m. with Travis Matte and the King Pins getting things warmed up before the Chee Weez packed the house with their high-energy musical performance.
And the crowd remained for Chris Ardoin, the night’s closing act.
An event-filled schedule welcomed festival-goers on Saturday, starting early that morning with the annual Diaper Derby, hosted by the Rayne Jaycees.
Little Emma Bruce, daughter of Andre Bruce, crawled to victory in that event, earning the title Diaper Derby Queen.
The annual Frog Derby, hosted by the Rayne Lions Club saw a number of honors bestowed, including one for the “Best Dressed Frog,” that particular honor going to Blaire Thibodeaux’s “King.”
Shelby Bordes, daughter of Pat and Jessica Bordes and a junior at Notre Dame, was crowned Frog Derby Queen while Micah Guidry, daughter of Leila Leger and Michael Guidry, was named Frog Jockey Queen.
The Frog Festival Grand Parade saw thousands lining The Boulevard Saturday morning as floats and marching bands and a multitude of visiting queens saluted this year’s Grand Marshal Pat Bordes II.
Back on the Festival grounds, winners were named in the first-ever Frog Cookoff and Accordion Contest, the adult division winner of the latter claiming a $3,000 hand-crafted Richard Accordion.
This year’s festival also marked the return of the Frog Eating Contest, where participants are judged not only on the number of frog legs they can consume, but on the grace and etiquette used in consuming those frog legs.
Ken Arceneaux, who had apparently dressed for the occasion in a black tuxedo, was declared the winner in the City of Rayne-sponsored event. He represented the Rotary Club of Rayne in the competition.
Also held Saturday was the festival’s signature Frog Racing and Jumping Contests, sponsored by the Rayne Jaycees and Rayne Acadian-Tribune.
Young and old alike from across the state participated in the only “hand-on” frog competition at the annual Festival.
Musical entertainment on Saturday kicked off with Temporary Fix at 11 a.m.
The Swamp Pop Legends Review, featuring Warren Storm, Willie T, Charles Mann, Tommy McClain and TK Hulin entertained the afternoon crowd before Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners heated up the dance floor, also providing music for the Zydeco Dance Contest.
Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition continued the entertainment before Wayne Toups and Zydecajun closed the festival before a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd.
As was stated before, the weather was perfect for this weekend’s Frog Festival, with the exception of the final 30 minutes or so of Toups’ performance, when the rains finally arrived.
It was during that time that a nostalgic Toups reminisced about his earlier days as a performer.
“We used to play at the OST and at the Hollywood Club. We used to hang out at Harold’s Lounge and Meche’s Lounge and The Green Frog,” he said. “We always had some good times here in Rayne and it seem like we’re still having a good time here.”
With that the musician ended his show with one of his signature, hard-rocking Cajun-zydeco songs.