Smoked Meat Festival kicks off Friday

The 22nd Annual Smoked Meat Festival (Festival de la Viande Boucanee) begins tomorrow, June 27, at the Ville Platte Civic Center.
On Friday, the gates open at 4 p.m. There will be Cajun food booths as well as live music beginning at 6 p.m. with Kyle Veillon. Pine Prairie’s own James Dupre will take the stage at 8 p.m. And Friday night’s headliner, Daryle Singletary, begins performing at 10 p.m.
On Saturday, the gates open at 9 a.m. with the smoked meat cookoff going on between 9 and 11 a.m. The opening ceremony, featuring guest speaker Captain Jared Ski Doucet, will be held at 12 noon. At 4 p.m., the pageant coronation will be held, followed at 5 p.m. by the announcement of the smoked meat cookoff winners. At 6 p.m., music begins with Mike Dean. Jaryd Lane takes the stage at 8 p.m. and Mark Chestnutt will headline at 10 p.m.
Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children age 12 and under. IDs are required and no ice chests will be allowed. For more information, call 363-1416.