Zydeco Breakfast Kicks Off Annual Music Festival

Zydeco Breakfast Kicks Off Annual Music Festival

Lil Pookie & the Zydeco Sensations 
Start Labor Day Weekend Off Right!

September 2, 2013

by Evan Moore 
Daily World Newspaper

The ground around St Landry Parish Courthouse rocks with the sounds of Lil' Pookie and the Zydeco Sensations as they entertain a large crowd at the annual Zydeco Breakfast Saturday morning. (Photo Credit Freddie Herpin)

Dancers twirled to the music of Lil’ Pookie and the Zydeco Sensations on the courthouse square Saturday morning as The City of Opelousas hosted its 11th annual Zydeco Breakfast.

The event, which ran from 8:30 to 11 a.m., was hosted by Opelousas Tourism and from Opelousas Main Street, Inc., and is held in conjunction with the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival in Plaisance, which is in its 31st year.

Zydeco royalty Isaac Woods and his sister Carolyn Thomas reign over the Zydeco Breakfast held Saturday on the grounds of the St. Landry Parish Courthouse.

The music festival was started in 1982, when a number of zydeco lovers became fearful that the music was losing popularity. The Treasures of Opelousas was formed as a support group and organized the first festival. It was held on a farmer’s field in Plaisance on the outskirts of Opelousas, with 400 people attending.

The breakfast was started as a prelude to the festival. Traditionally, downtown businesses offer breakfast menu items for sale, ranging from Bloody Marys and coffee to Clifton Chenier Casserole and pancakes. Local restaurants and bars around the Courthouse Square include Java Square, Back in Time Restaurant, Palace Café, Dairy Queen and The Brass Rail.

Lil' Pookie (Jimmy Seraile) began his career playing the rub board and later traveled with the popular band Zydeco Force. He later formed Lil’ Pookie and the Zydeco Sensations. 

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