The Ville Platte Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from Pat Derousselle, President of the Louisiana Cotton Festival Association. Next week’s festival will be the 64th annual festival. He announced that since the beginning of the year, 14 festivals have folded due to either lack of funding or participation. “I am happy to say, Cotton is still here and we plan to be here for a long time to come,” said Derouselle. He noted that Goldstar Amusements, that bring sits carnival to the festival each year has recently won a national award for safety for its riders.
Derousselle announced that this year’s festival royalty includes: King Cotton- Lt. Governor Billy Nungessor; Col. Cotton-State Representative Bernard LeBas and Parade Marshal-Janie Knighten. The festival begins Tuesday Oct. 10 with the Contredanse and the crowning of the King and Queen of Heritage Manor Nursing home at the Civic Center; 4-H Cooking contest and Pet Show Wednesday Oct. 11 at the Civic Center and pavilion. The carnival rides open Wednesday. On Friday night, the street dance includes Travis Matte, Keith Frank and Category Six; On Saturday , the coronation of the Cotton Festival Queen 65 at 5:30pm; On Sunday Oct. 15, the day begins with the Cotton Festival Mass at Our Lady Queen of All Saints at 8:30am; the Grand Parade of Cotton at 12 noon and the running of the tournoi at the Industrial Park at 2:00pm. He was the special guest of Rotarian Bill Brunet.
Club President Wayne Vidrine announced the newest club member to join the group: Maggie Eaves. It was also announced that the next club social is scheduled for October 24.