Voodoo Fest

The number of great festivals in Louisiana never ceases to amaze me. Whether it is Jazz Fest, the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, or even the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival, Louisiana is never short of having opportunities to socialize and eat.

The most recent one to roll through town a few weeks ago was Voodoo Fest, a three-day music festival with big names (Nine Inch Nails, Mars Volta, Panic at the Disco!) as well as local bands (Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Hot Club of New Orleans). My friend Meghan (shown here with me before a night out earlier this semester) had scored us a very good deal on tickets for the Saturday (October 25) – free admittance for a few hours of volunteering at the festival. Considering that tickets usually ran fifty dollars and that when Meghan and I get together a good time usually ensues, I was so in.

So, after a nice brunch at Bruff (because who doesn't love Bruff brunch?), we set off to City Park at around noon.

We ended up tabling for the Ashe Cultural Arts Center, a community center in New Orleans which focuses on education about African American culture. She and I were set loose to pass out flyers to any passersby who would give us a chance (which was an interesting experience to say that least). There were so many people dressed up in bizarre costumes – Meghan’s and my favorite was this girl with bright blue hair, a furry blue skirt, and matching furry blue boots.

After a couple hours of handing out flyers and talking up the cultural center, we were allowed to go.

Of course, the first stop for us was to look around at all the vendor's booths. Meghan ended up buying a great purple “Defend New Orleans” shirt, and I finally bought myself a pair of sunglasses. Then, we peered around at the different concert stages and scoped out which shows we wanted to attend.

After a quick stop to buy Meghan (pictured looking very hungry) a spinach and crawfish bread bowl, we decided to meet up with some of my friends who had places near the stage where Lil’ Wayne was going to perform.

Quick background note: although I can enjoy the occasional Lil’ Wayne song and even know the words to a few, I am not exactly his biggest fan. Neither is Meghan.

After fighting our way through the massive sea of people, we somehow made it next to my friends who were not exaggerating when they said they were thisclose to the stage (notice the picture below). It was quite the spectacle when Lil’ Wayne came to the stage. We were in the midst of the really hardcore Lil’ Wayne fans; they knew all the words to every song, and all the female fans screeched at the top of their lungs every time he did so little as breathe.

My favorite quote from that day was from Meghan: “I wish I could just lay down on a stage and have people just adore me.”

We then met up with one of Meghan’s friends for a while and enjoyed some lemonade, but by that point we were so exhausted that we didn’t stay for the rest of the night. A quick cab ride later, we were back on campus, and I think I lasted about another half hour before I fell asleep.

Just another good day in New Orleans.

Also, a follow-up story: Meghan and I volunteered with this high school Senior, Jamal, that day as well. When we were downtown for Halloween, we both were tapped on the shoulder and it was none other than Jamal, wishing us both Happy Halloweens! Small world.