At 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 23, Louis Armstrong Park will open its gates for the first of two days of the 2018 Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival, the city’s only festival that exclusively features Cajun and Zydeco music. The event is free and open to the public, and it includes an impressive array of Louisiana’s most beloved artists of these genres.

Headlining this year’s festival are Cajun-Zydeco Festival regulars Lost Bayou Ramblers, who are fresh off a Grammy Award win for Best Regional Roots Music Album, as well as Grammy nominee Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers.

According to the festival’s organizers, this year’s celebration will place emphasis on “trail ride” music, a kind of hot zydeco music popular in southwest Louisiana. Li’l Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers, Chris Ardoin & NuStep and Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band are among this year’s artists that fit within this particular brand of zydeco.

Outside of the music, attendees can indulge in a diverse selection of seafood vendors, carrying Louisiana oysters, shrimp, catfish, crab, boudin and alligator among other goods.

Alongside the 10 vendors selling entrees, there will be four hawking refreshing and savory desserts for every taste and preference. The festival also includes a full arts and crafts fair, where 24 of the region’s best artisans will sell their handmade art, jewelry and other wares.

The festival will also provide a Kids Tent, where young children can enjoy a variety of supervised creative activities while their parents get down to the music. In addition, the Kids Tent is partnering with the festival’s artisans to lead instructional workshops on arts and crafts. The tent will close at 6 p.m. on both days of the festival.

As hot as New Orleans is in June, organizers are providing a half-dozen misting fans from Mist Works to help attendees keep their cool as they dance to local bands throughout the afternoon.

The full lineup for the 12th annual edition of the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival includes Bruce Daigrepont, Chris Ardoin & NuStep, Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, Les Freres Michot, Lil’ Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Sean Ardoin and Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots. Check out the schedule below:

Saturday, June 23:

11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bruce Daigrepont

12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.      Sean Ardoin

2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.    Les Freres Michot

4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.    Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots

5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.    Lost Bayou Ramblers

Sunday, June 24:

11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lil’ Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers

12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Chris Ardoin & NuStep

2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.    Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band

4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.    Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas

5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.    Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers