New Iberia kicked off the annual Bunk Johnson Jazz, Arts and Heritage Festival Thursday night with opening ceremonies in Bunk Johnson Plaza.

The crowd enjoyed a dinner of red beans and rice and live music by John Wilson and the Zydeco House Rockers.

Gilbert Thomas, local insurance agent and member of the festival board of directors, said this year’s celebration will span several weeks and dedicate the whole month of May to celebrating the life of one of New Iberia’s own.

5/1/08 John Wilson and the Zydeco House Rockers perform in Bunk Park as he opening band of Bunk Fest 2008. Lee Ball/The Daily Iberian Advertisement

The yearly festival honors Bunk Johnson, a prominent jazz trumpet player who settled in New Iberia around 1930.

John Reedom, director of music at St. Edward Catholic Church and professor of sociology at the Louisiana Technical College Teche Area Campus, said Johnson greatly influenced the world of music during his life.

“The festival is unique because we celebrate one of our own, and it’s an opportunity for people to rediscover a period in New Iberia when we contributed to the history of jazz,” Reedom said.

According to Judge Charles Porter, the annual festival began in 1998 and was an idea brought to fruition by himself, Pat Caffery and Austin Sonnier, as well as several other members of the community.

“It’s grown into a little small community festival, and it hopefully provides a great inspiration of model musicians sometimes with great life stories and sometimes tragic life stories,” Porter said.

“All in all, it provides an opportunity to celebrate a great love of music by people in Louisiana for small audiences and younger people who may not otherwise get this type of opportunity.”

The board of directors said the festival continues to grow every year.