The Campbell Reporter

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Popular downtown event returns this weekend

It may not be Bourbon Street, but it's pretty close. Boogie on the Bayou transforms downtown Campbell into N'awlins once again, bringing Cajun cuisine, rhythm and blues and all that jazz to the Orchard City.

The weekend is packed with music, events and activities as more than 40,000 celebrants are expected to show up. This year, the sixth annual Boogie on the Bayou lands on May 17 and 18.

In addition to being the sixth Boogie on the Bayou, the festival also marks the 30th anniversary of spring festivals in Campbell hosted by the Campbell Chamber of Commerce. For more than 20 of those years, the cause for celebration was to acknowledge the prune orchards that used to blanket the Orchard City.

Betty Deal, executive director of the Chamber, said the event, dubbed the Prune Festival, celebrated Campbell's history as the leading prune shipping center of the world.

But times have changed, Deal said. Six years ago, the Chamber decided to change the name and the theme.

"In this day and age, I'm not sure we have one [orchard] in Campbell," Deal said. "We wanted something fun and geared toward families. People seem to like themes better."

And while the Orchard City has no direct connection with The Big Easy, it's been a success nonetheless.

"Everyone we've talked to have fairly enjoyed it. People keep coming back for years, and they look forward to it," Deal said.

Revelers can visit more than 200 vending, business and arts and crafts booths. Music and food, two of the things that define New Orleans culture, will have an authentic touch to them.

Deal said several Louisiana musicians and chefs fly out to California for the two-day festival. The musicians will perform on three stages, playing everything from soft jazz to blues to zydeco, a form of folk music native to Louisiana.

For eats, the festival will feature traditional Cajun dishes such as jambalaya, gumbo and crawdads. There will also be All-American food such as hot dogs, burgers and tri-tip sandwiches.

"We're inviting everyone to come down and see it if they haven't," Deal said.

The sixth annual Boogie on the Bayou takes place May 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Campbell. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit www.campbellchamber.com.