Gerry Spanger's 12th annual King Cake Party
321 Baldwin Street
Breaux Bridge, LA
March 1, 2014
Both sides of Baldwin Street and all the side streets nearby are lined with cars and trucks, the great migration to Gerry Spanger's King cake party has commenced. Like primordial imprinting that guides birds, mammals, and fish at certain times of the year, the path to 321 Baldwini is embedded in dancers' memories and kicks in the Saturday before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). The timing of this ritual has become as predictable as the swallows returning to Capistrano.
A long line of men and women, bearing camp chairs slung over their shoulders, the occasional ice chest in tow, a musical spring in their step as they head for the second to last house on the left side of the street that ends at the railroad tracks. About 100 revelers are staking out their territory on the lawn well before the sound of Geno Delafose's accordion draws most of them onto the dance floor under the shed at Gerry's house. It's well before the official start time of noon.
With the right chemistry, there can be dancing at its peak: lascivious courtship, safe and salacious, extemporaneous and explicit, dirty and divine. I say this from experience.
Baldwin Street was jammed with cars and trucks way before noon. People arrived early to meet, greet, and eat.
Many have traveled from afar... Ireland for example.
Partiers arrive early to chow down. There are four hours of dancing to fuel up for.
"As long as I'm healthy and have a few pennies to rub together, I intend to keep this party rolling," Gerry Spanger says as he introduces Geno Delafose and His French Rockin' Boogie.
The dance floor under the shed Gerry and Don Walker built is packed for each and every dance.
The good times are a'rolling...
Bernard Ussher passes the hat for those who want to donate to the afternoon's entertainment.
Photos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.
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