Wondering about the subtle differences between a few dozen different kinds of hot sauce?

Your chance to find out what those are, ride a few rides and listen to good music might just be this weekend during the 9th annual Cajun Hot Sauce Festival.

The event raises money for the SugArena at Acadiana Fairgrounds, which schedules livestock and entertainment events year-round at the site.

Bubba Mire and the band Primetime take the stage on Saturday afternoon at the SugArena's Cajun Hot Sauce Festival. Bill Smith / The Daily Iberian - Advertisement

“We have real good entertainment. It’s a family atmosphere,” said Tim Guidry, director of the SugArena.

There will be a Cajun food court, hot sauce competition, arts and crafts, a carnival, a Queens pageant and a Tabasco jambalaya cookoff.

The cookoff is Sunday, but there will be food and craft vendors the entire weekend.

The carnival is $20 per day, though it is also possible to buy individual ride tickets. Guidry said the SugArena is working with a new carnival this year.

“They said New Iberia’s never seen rides like this,” he said.

Though a carnival spokesman said he did not yet know which rides would be included, pictures of some are available at www.goldstaramusements.com.

Guidry said as of Monday morning there were 10 cookoff teams signed up, but they are still accepting applicants. The cost to sign up is $100. Call the SugArena at 365-7539 to do so.

“We’re just hoping to have a successful weekend,” Guidry said.

The festival will kick off with a carnival night Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. Things will really get moving Friday, with the gates opening at 6 p.m. and entertainment scheduled from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Saturday, gates open at 2 p.m., with performers including T.K. Hulin, Spank the Monkey and Nashville’s Jenny Brooks and Redline performing until 1 a.m. Sunday, gates open at 9 a.m., with entertainment including Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys and Terry Broussard and the Zydeco Sidesteppers scheduled from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Advance admission, available at the SugArena and Gulotta’s, is $20 for the entire weekend. At the door, it is $12 for the Friday concert and $12 for the Saturday concert. Sunday’s concert is free.

For a complete entertainment lineup, go to www.sugarena.com. More information is also available by calling the Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau at 888-942-3742.