RAINING FUN

LYDIA — Steady showers muddied the grounds at Weeks Park but could not dampen the spirits of festival-goers of the seventh annual Cajun Food Fest this weekend. The gray skies and steady drizzle diminished attendance, but the two-day fundraiser was deemed a success by participants and Lydia Cancer Association organizers.

Hundreds passed a good time despite the inclement weather, tasting spicy Cajun dishes, dancing to zydeco music and splashing in puddles.

“It was a little slower than usual,” said Martha Landry of the Lydia Cancer Association. “But we’re doing real good in T-shirt sales.” More than 150 shirts were sold by early Saturday evening, she said, and caps were also a hot commodity. Debra Savoie, vice president of the association, said most of the vendors sold all of their food.

Last year, the festival raised about $99,000. Savoie said it was too soon to say whether the association surpassed its goal of $100,000 this year. Gate numbers were down slightly, Savoie said, but those who attended “came out in any weather.”

Particularly undeterred by the sinister skies was Bruce Gardner of Lydia. For Gardner, this year’s festival was more than an occasion to mingle and enjoy crab cakes.

His mother-in-law lost her battle to cancer in January.

“When you lose someone it’s bad enough,” Gardner said. “When they have cancer, you have to watch them suffer. You’re never prepared for this kind of stuff, but you meet people here who make it a little bit easier.”

Across the park, Amber Ardeneaux, 17 of New Iberia, and her friends were making the rounds, meeting friends but making little effort to stay dry. “We usually come just for the food, music and people,” Ardeneaux said. This year’s festival was even more interesting because of the new rides and games, she said.

In the spirit of helping, the New Iberia-based Major James Grace Chapter 1001 Vietnam Veterans of America used the festival to inform the public of the support it offers veterans, recruiting new members such as Harold Hicks, who recently moved to the Teche Area from St. Louis. “There are veterans walking around who don’t know we exist,” said Ronnie Thibodeaux over a bowl of his chicken and sausage jambalaya.

Though Thibodeaux maintains his dish hit the spot like no other, the People’s Choice award went to Pam Reaux and Friends, who sold the most dishes of grilled quail wrapped in bacon, seafood pasta and other favorites.

Rosco and the Roux Brothers ranked second in sales with their shrimp and crab dip over crab cake.

Not everyone was interested only in the food and music. Tyler Derouen, a 10-year-old New Iberia boy, said his favorite part of the festival was buying a marshmallow gun.

“That music can make you deaf,” he said.