2011 Festival International de Louisiane Dispatch3
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The lull before the storm… but this storm, unlike the malicious ones attacking the southeastern part of the US, is benign. Volunteers and professionals are swarming like ants in a very ordered colony around Lafayette’s downtown business district. The Festival Internationale de Louisiane begins at 6:30 pm with two bands playing at the Scene Malibu Stage on Jefferson. Everyone is determined to be ready.
pt at large is spending the afternoon scoping the scene. “You must be some of the 1500 volunteers who help put this event together, “ says I to a group hanging signs at the major stage at the Parc Internationale.
“That’s us!” the four hail back.
“Thanks for doing it and making it free for visitors like me. You know where I can find a brochure with a map of the goings on?”
One of the volunteers fishes a slightly bent copy from his pocket. “Here you go.”
I mention my chance meeting with Claire, the teacher I met on the plane who is returning from her vacation to volunteer.
“You know, we still take walk in volunteers,” the tall young man who seems to be the team leader says. Later that afternoon, I get the scoop from Apiyo, one of the two people in charge of volunteers. The young man who directed me there is Tucker, the head of security for the festival. Who knows? I might take a shift as a volunteer before the weekend is done.
This is how it goes around here all the time. No matter how busy they are, people always have the time to talk, to connect.
"Where'd you get that pocket guide?" a man says just outside the Childrens Museum of Acadiana. “We just had the Boston Brass Band play here for the kids on Saturday afternoon two weeks ago. It's part of our museum program we put on with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra," Tyrus says when he finds out where I'm from. I drop off a pocket guide for him later. It turns out there are nine museums in Lafayette (population 206,000) Impressive!
Professionals set up the infrastructure for the festival.
The Pamplona Tapas Bar on Jefferson will be part of the Food Walkabout Friday afternoon. It will be a busy place all weekend long.
Over 1500 volunteers work the event. Inside the tent - cold beverages, air conditioned comfort, chairs to relax on, and directors to answer questions and fill assignments...and their own portapotties right outside the door!
Apiyo, one of the two Volunteer directors, fields a question Wednesday afternoon.
Comments