Welcome to official website of  

The Annual Poke Salad Festival Association  

Blanchard, Louisiana

The 36^th Annual Poke Salad Festival

will be held

May 6th - 8th, 2010

 in Blanchard, Louisiana  

 

FREE PONY RIDES FOR KIDS

BY BARNYARD ADVENTURES

12:00 - 1:30 PM

on the Festival Grounds

 

Poke Salad Festival Announces Theme for 2010

There are many ways for you to participate and possibly win cash prizes at the Poke Salad Festival in 2010. 

The theme for 2010 is

"Blanchard LA is Poke Salad Country - Where Dat?"

This theme makes light of our obscure existence in North West Louisiana and also honors the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl Champions.  In keeping with this theme we are inviting all businesses in the Blanchard area to participate in the Store Front Decorating Contest during the week of May 3rd through May 8th by decorating in Saints black and gold.  The first place business receives a $75.00 Office Depot gift card and second place receives a $25.00 gift card.  The Store Front Decorating Contest is sponsored by S & J Technologies.  Please call Sharon Bryant at 929-7574 for more information or to register your business in the contest. 

The Poke Salad Festival Treasure Hunt starts on Monday May 3rd with clues being announced daily in the newspaper, on the radio, and by 8:00 AM here on the Treasure Hunt page.  The $1,500.00 prize is sponsored by long-time Poke Salad Festival supporters Tim's Paint and Collision and American Dust Control. You receive $1,000.00 for finding the hidden treasure, but if you have a current Poke Salad T-Shirt you win $250.00 more, and you can win $250.00 more if you have business cards from the two sponsors above.

As you may already know, one of the highlights of the Poke Salad Festival is the parade through downtown Blanchard on Saturday May 8th, starting at 10:00 AM in front of Blanchard Elementary School.  This year our Grand Marshal will be Joe Lawler.  We always have great participation and creative ideas in our Parade Float Contest, sponsored by Doug's Paint and Body Shop, with the winner receiving a $250.00 cash prize.  All groups, teams, or businesses are invited to participate and show your Saints spirit in the parade float contest with no charge to join the fun.  Car clubs and any other group or individual wishing to be in the parade should please contact Sandra West at 929-2639 or 422-9112 to register your parade entry. 

For the third year, we will host the Pokey Pet Parade contest for area pet owners and those fun loving pets sponsored by Brookings Animal Hospital.    Prizes will be awarded for Cutest - Just makes you go awwww weee; Owner look alike - dress up as a pair!; and  Best Costume - dress up in your best Black and Gold Saints wear.  Register before 1:30 on Saturday, May 8th during the festival at the Poke Salad Festival Information Booth.  Pet parade starts at 2:00 with line-up by the tennis courts and judging at the Doug's Paint and Body Shop stage..  All of the above prizes and award announcements will be presented at the Pavilion during the Award Ceremonies at 3:00 PM Saturday May 8th.

Poke Salad Festival - Where Dat! t-shirts are being ordered and will be for sale in area stores soon.  The carnival will feature armbands for all-you-can-ride rides on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this year, which is an exciting change and offers more family fun at an affordable price.   Don't forget to pre-purchase your carnival all-you-can-ride armband tickets at Cliff's Country Corner, Pizza King, and Blanchard Insurance for $15.00 in advance, or pay $18.00 on the day of for your armband.  Tickets will be in stores soon - watch for the carnival posters to go up.   

8-Track - The Ultimate Party Band will perform at the Tail Gate Party at the Poke
Salad Pavilion Saturday May 8th from 8:00 - 11:00

We are looking forward to an exciting line-up of entertainment this year and we will feature Karaoke hosted by River City Entertainment at the Doug's Paint and Body Shop stage.  So all you Blanchard crooners, get ready to sing your hearts out at the Festival with over 6000 songs to choose from.  To wrap up the festivities we plan to have a tailgate party at the Pavilion featuring the ultimate party band 8-Track.  This classic rock band was not selected just because they are a very popular band playing at all the casinos and hot spots in Shreveport/Bossier, but also because two of the members live right here in the Blanchard area - Joey Rayburn on lead vocals and Big-O on bass guitar.  Also in the band are area notables Robin Vosbury on vocals/lead guitar, Dexter Mathis on vocals/lead guitar, and Mike Owens on drums.  Click here for the full schedule of events.  So come on Blanchard, let's show our Saints pride and get excited about the Poke Salad Festival in Blanchard Louisiana - Where Dat!