The annual Gretna Heritage Festival starts today and continues through Sunday. Tex-Mex roots rockers Los Lobos are among an array of national acts to join a wide-ranging roster of locals for the event.

The fest occupies a full eight stages in downtown Gretna. Classic rock groups like REO Speedwagon, the Doobie Brothers and the Charlie Daniels Band lead the pack of visiting acts. Local selections range from brass groups (Bonerama, the Storyville Stompers) to Cajun acts (Bruce Daigrepont, Amanda Shaw) to Mardi Gras Indians (Creole Wild West, Wild Magnolias) and indie rock (MyNameIsJohnMichael).

And it’s not just music: carnival games will accompany rides such as “The Graviton”, “The Octopus”, and, of course, “The Hamster Umbrella Ride”. Food will be provided by 29 different vendors, including Café Hope, Big Al’s Saloon and La Maison Creole.

Tickets can be purchased online at gretnafest.com. Free parking and a shuttle to the fest can be found at the Westside Shopping Center behind Academy Sporting Goods and at Oakwood Center in Terrytown.

You can check out the full schedule at the Gretna Fest website. Here’s a video of headliners Los Lobos performing with former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant at the Taste of Chicago festival this summer.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K-3HxHs_aA[/youtube]