Welcome to our party

While the vendors, work crews and festival officials are busy worrying about putting the finishing touches on the festival grounds for the 79th International Rice Festival, there is one thing that they will not be worrying about that has been of concern in recent years.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the forecast for the entire weekend is the same as Dan Borne’s forecast for Tiger Stadium every Saturday night during the fall.
“Chance of rain ... Never” is what Borne says prior to every home game.
The only difference is that Borne sometimes makes his traditional pregame announcement as rain is pouring from the sky. When Kira Viator Weber and Bayou Beat kick off their opening notes at the Cajun Country Sound Stage tonight at 6:30, they will be playing to the first of three sunny days where the chance of rain as of Wednesday (after all this is Louisiana) is listed as 0 percent from Thursday through Sunday.
“This is the best forecast for a Rice Festival that I can ever recall,” said Mayor Greg Jones.
Rice Festival Chairman Kevin Spell was obviously quite happy with the this weekend’s weather prediction as well. However, he seemed as though he didn’t want to jinx it.
“The weather definitely looks as though it’s going to treat us well,” he said. “It could be one of the best in recent years.”
This being his first time as festival chairman, Spell has definitely been handling his job in a hands-on fashion. The owner of Spell House Raising & Leveling has been all over downtown this week keeping an eye on the construction of both stages as well as the carnival area.
Some of the highlights this weekend will include Saturday’s performance by the Charlie Daniel’s Band, the Budweiser Clydesdales’ appearance in the Grand Parade, and, of course, the crowning of the International Rice Festival Queen by last year’s queen, Ali Hoffpauir.
Hoffpauir, meanwhile, will be enjoying her final day as the Rice Festival Queen Friday, which will be highlighted by the Children’s Parade and the crowning of this year’s Junior King and Queen.
Jones wanted to welcome the tens of thousands expected for the festival.
“I would like to welcome the people visiting our city this weekend and hope everyone has a safe and fantastic time,” he said. “We couldn’t have asked for better weather and once again the people who work in the office just a block east of here have outdone themselves.”
Thursday’s music lineup is as follows:
Cajun Country Rice Stage (main stage):
6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.: Kira Viator Weber and the Bayou Beat
8:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.: Charley Rivers
10:30 p.m. - midnight: Daryle Singletary
Cramer Equipment & Supply Sound Stage
6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.: Oddfellows
8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.: Kevin Naquin
10 p.m. - midnight: Chee Weez