Preserving Cajun Culture

Kade Verrette is a greased pole climbing expert.
Verrett said, “I’ve competed five or six times, and I’ve won twice. It’s a 15- to 20-foot metal pole covered in axel grease, and you climb in three to four man teams. Whoever gets to the top first wins. Some teams take a little while and others take just a few seconds to get a man up the pole.”
The greased pole climbing competition is part of the Mamou Cajun Music Festival. The festival will be this weekend, Sept. 16 and 17, at the Mamou Recreational Center Complex. The event will feature music, games and food including fresh cracklins, burgers, jambalaya and red beans and rice. Admission is $7 a day for those 12 and older.
The festival started out as a one day festival to showcase local Cajun musicians in an effort help keep the Cajun culture alive and renew the community’s interest in the culture. Now the festival is a a two day event that includes traditional Cajun musicians, dancing, food and contests. All proceeds are used to fund the next year’s festival.
Verrette said as many as 10 teams work to get their man to the top, and he has competed in the event on two different teams over the years. Participating in the event comes with the territory as a member of the Verrette family.
“My mom and dad and my family have been involved with the festival since I was a kid,” he said. “It’s kind of a tradition.
“We want people to come out and experience the festival.”
Verrette said he will not compete in the greased pole climbing competition this year, but he will attended the festival with other members of his family
His aunt, festival treasurer Wanda Verrette, said the event draws about 2,500 people, and said the greased pole climbing competition is one of the most popular games at the festival.
“Everyone comes out of the building to see that one,” she said. “Egg throwing is also popular. Nail driving is popular too. People keep trying and trying. It’s very competitive.
“We’ve always had games at the festival, and we added washer boards in the last few years. The washer board tournament is a very big attraction.”
Verrette said the games played at the festival have been played in the Cajun culture for several decades.
“The games keep up traditions and give people a place to take a break from the music,” she said. “The festival keeps the music and language alive.”
The event’s music schedule is as follows: Sept. 16 - Coz Fontenot and Band, 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Sheryl Cormier & Cajun Sound, 7:45 to 10 p.m; Sept. 17 - Cajun Stompers, 9 to 11 a.m.; Ray Landry & The Vermilionville Ramblers, 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.; Nolan Cormier & The Cajun Hee Haw Band, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Honoree Presentation, 3 p.m.; Tee Shaoui Social Club, 3:45 to 5:30 p.m. and Lee Benoit, 5:45 to 7:30 p.m.
The event’s game schedule is as follows: Sept. 16 - Potato Dance, 9 p.m.; and Sept. 17 - Egg Throwing (adults and children), 11 a.m.; Cajun Dizzy Dash, 11:45 a.m.; Children’s Sack Race, 12 p.m.; Boudin Eating, 12:15 p.m.; Children’s Watermelon Eating, 1 p.m.; Women’s Beer Drinking, 1:15 p.m.; Men’s Beer Drinking, 1:30 p.m.; Washerboard Tournament, 1:45 p.m.; Children’s Guinea Chase, 2:15 p.m.; Women’s Arm Wrestling, 3:15 p.m.; Men’s Arm Wrestling, 3:45 p.m.; Women’s Nail Driving, 4:15 p.m.; Men’s Nail Driving, 4:45 p.m.; Women’s Passe Partout, 5:15 p.m.; Men’s Passe Partout, 5:45 p.m.; and Greased Pole Climbing, 6:15 p.m.
The event’s workshop schedule is as follows: Sept. 17 - Cajun Dance, 12 to 1 p.m and Capuchon Making, 3 to 4 p.m.