Thibodaux Firenmen's Fair 2019

The Daily Comet

May 1, 2019

May 2-5, 2019 Thibodaux Fire Department Fairgrounds 1101 Tiger Drive Food, rides, games, live auctions, parade, 5K run

MUSICAL HEADLINER

JO DEE MESSINA Country rock band performs 10:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday, May 4

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 2018 Grand Marshal Lester Bimah

What is the Firemen’s Fair?

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Live music schedule

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Country star Jo Dee Messina this year’s headliner

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Meet this year’s grand marshal

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Don’t forget to pick up a poster

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Where the money goes

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Where to park

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Check out all the food

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2018 Grand Marshal Lester Bimah

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018 Grand Marshal Lester Bimah

8 Grand Marshal ester Bimah

2019 Grand Marshal

opportunity to Salute the 2019 Thibodaux 1662 MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD. Firefighters and HOUMA, LA 70360 Would like to tak 2019 Grand Marshal

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2018 GRAND MARSHAL LESTER BIMAH

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Fund-raising goal: $1 MILLION

By Julia Arenstam | Staff Writer The annual Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair begins Thursday on the fairgrounds, 1101 Tiger Drive.

Members have been gearing up formonths for their largest fundraising event of the year with a lofty goal in mind: raising a net $1 million for the all-volunteer department.

2019 Grand Marshal Justin Tenney said he’s eager to break the fundraising goal to ensure a healthy reserve for the department.

“We don’t know where this ride is going to take us in the future,” Tenney said.

“We may have some lean years so let’s fill up the reserves now.”

With no admission or parking charges, the department raises money through the sale of more than 600 auction items, thousands of raffle tickets and an unfathomable amount of burgers.

The festival raised $825,000 last year.

Thibodaux’s continues to be the largest all-volunteer fire department in th coun-

try, with about 480 current members.

Chief Chad Mire says he’s hoping to break 500 members this year, encouraging anyone to volunteer, even if they’re not ready to fight literal fires.

To help grow attendance above the average 75,000, organizers say they have put together a strong musical lineup each night. The weekend’s biggest musical guest, country star Jo Dee Messina, will close the show Saturday night beginning at 10:30.

“That’s what people are demanding and we’re trying to give them what they’re asking for,” Mire said. “You’re not paying $75 to walk through that gate to go see them, you’re not even paying a dollar.”

The annual Firemen’s Parade, the longest continuously held parade in Louisiana, will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday on the east side of Thibodaux. Tenney is the 131st grand marshal in the parade’s history. He will lead the parade Sunday down Menard and St. Mary’s streets, ending at the fairgrounds.

Make sure to stop by the auction Join us as we salute the brave men Join us as we salute the brave standmen for aand chance and women of our fire department.

Without hesitation, they often women of our fire risk department.

Without to win a Yeti their own lives and safety to save hesitation, they often risk their own lives the lives of others. and safety save Celebrating 50 to Years ofthe lives of others.

Serving You!

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2019 THIBODAUX FIREMEN’S FAIR SCHEDULE FAIR HOURS Thursday: 5 to 11 p.m.

Friday: 5 p.m to 12:30 a.m.

Saturday: 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday. The fun run is $20 to enter and $30 for the 5K. Registration forms are also online at www.firemensfair.com.

RIDES Bracelets for pay-one-price rides are $22 and can be used from 5 to 11 p.m.

Thursday and Friday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Regular tickets are $1.25 each, with children’s rides costing tow tickets per person and three for adults. Guests can also purchase a pack of 22 tickets for $25 and 55 for $60.

ONE-MILE FUN RUN AND 5K The fun run begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, followed by the 5K at 8 a.m.

The race begins at the fairgrounds entrance and travels down Tiger Drive,through downtown Thibodaux and cycles back to end at the fairground entrance. Registration will be held at the ticket booths and registration table from 6 to 8 p.m.

PARADE Starting Time: 11 a.m Sunday.

Starting location: Intersection of Blake Court and Menard Street.

Route: Begins by St. Joseph elementary, 501 Cardinal Drive and proceeds down Menard street, 5th Street and St. Mary’s Street. It will turn down Tiger Drive and end at the fairgrounds.

AUCTIONS AND RAFFLE The first auction begins at 6 p.m. Saturday behind the flat barn in the big tent.

The second auction will be held right after the parade on Sunday inside the Grand Marshal’s Den. A large raffle will be held at the end of the fair. Prizes range from $10,000 in cash, to jewelry, to a $1,000 Wag-a-pak gift card, to a $200 gift card to Bubba’s II Poboys. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.

2005 Grand Marshal, Bryan Harang and his family wishes to congratulate the hard-working and dedicated Thibodaux Volunteer Firemen, and encourage the good people of Thibodaux to support the firemen and enjoy the fair.

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COURAGE UNDER FIRE Join us as we salute our local firefighters.

For the important role they play in protecting our lives and for their brave and selfless sacrifice, we thank the dedicated men and women of our nation’s fire departments. We gratefully recognize their service to our communities, and we honor the memories of those who have fallen in the line of duty. You are all heroes, and we thank you for all that you do.

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5 bands playing at the fair

By Scott Yoshonis | Staff Writer 1. Fuel: Formed in 1993, Fuel signed to Sony Records and in 1998 released their critically lauded debut album “Sunburn” with the hit single “Shimmer.”

Their second album, “Something Like Human,” took the band to a new level of stardom, hitting multi-platinum status driven by the singles “Innocent” and “Hemorrhage,” which remained at No. 1 for 10 weeks.

2. Chase Tyler Band: Country band out of Baton Rouge led by Tyler, the latest single, “Louisiana is My Home” pays homage to the singer-songwriter’s’ home state and its unique culture. The song and its video have already received over 700,000 plays.

3. Category 6: Category 6’s live performance is a combination of high-energy stage antics, amazing visuals,

MUSIC SCHEDULE Thursday 7-10:30 p.m. — Category 6, variety covers.

including the bright neon glow from UV black lights, and a song list that captures the 1980s to today. The New Orleans cover band’s set list includes all genres of music.

Friday 6-8 p.m. — The Groove, variety covers.

8:30-10 p.m. — Chase Tyler Band, country/Southern rock.

10:30 p.m.-midnight — Fuel, rock.

4. Royal Blugarou featuring Wayne Toups: For nearly 30 years, Cajung singer-songwriter Wayne Toups has received critical acclaim for his work, including a Grammy. This small acoustic band is a stripped-down version of his popular show, with Toups showing off his raw vocals and accordion skills played alongside gutsy guitar riffs, fiddle and harmonica.

5. Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band: Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band bring a mix of blues, 70s funk, rock ‘n’ roll and zydeco. The band’s “Zydeco Junkie” was named Best Zydeco or Cajun Album during the 2011 Grammys. Carrier’s father, Roy Carrier; his grandfather, Warren Carrier; and his cousins, Bebe and Calvin Carrier; are zydeco legends.

Saturday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. — Houma-Terrebonne Community Band, Big Band, classical, orchestra.

1:30-3:30 p.m. — Kerry Thibodaux, variety covers.

4-6 p.m. — Powerhouse, variety covers.

6:30-8 p.m. — Snapper and the Fishsticks, variety covers.

8:30-10 p.m. — Leroux, variety covers.

Sunday 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. — Pot 2 La, swamp pop.

2-4 p.m. — Junior Lacrosse, swamp pop.

4:30-6:30 p.m. — Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, zydeco.

7-9 p.m. — Royal Blugarou featuring Wayne Toups, variety covers.

Thanks For All Your Hard Work And Dedication.

Support Our Firemen This Weekend!

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Country star Jo Dee Messina this year’s headliner

By Scott Yoshonis | Staff Writer One of the most accomplished women in country music will headline the 2019 Firemen’s Fair. Jo Dee Messina will hit the stage at 10:30 Saturday night.

Since the release of her breakout song, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” in 1996, Messina has posted nine No. 1 hits, 16 Top 40 songs, sold over 5 million albums worldwide and was honored by the ACM, CMA and Grammy Awards.

Born and raised in Framingham, Mass., Messina moved to Nashville to pursue her country music career at age 19. After performing in talent shows and landing a live radio gig, Messina was discovered by Tim McGraw’s label, Curb Records.

Messina’s self-titled debut album spawned two Top 10 hits, starting with the lead single, “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Country charts, and its follow-up, “You’re Not in Kansas Anymore” gained

similar success.

In addition to headlining concerts, she toured with Vince Gill, George Strait and The Judds’ reunion tour.

Messina has released six studio albums, the most recent of which, “Me,” came out in 2014. It is Messina’s first album since parting ways with Curb Records, which launched her career in 1995. The album was “crowd-funded” by help from Messina’s fan base and Kickstarter.com in spring 2013.

Messina’s campaign surpassed her $100,000 goal, making it the most successful Kickstarter campaign to come out of Nashville and, at the time of completion, the 15th-largestfunded music campaign in Kickstarter. com history.

The album reached No. 19 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart.

According to her website, Messina has “created a reputation for herself as one of Jo Dee Messina will be the headliner for the 2019 Thibodaux the most passionate, high-energy Firemen’s Fair. [Amy Harris/Invision/AP] performers in the business.”

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NIGHT LIGHTS The fairgrounds are open 5-11 p.m.

Thursday, 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday. Things really light up at night.

[Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department]

Thank You Fireman!

Best Wishes at the Fair!

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Grand marshal: ‘This is the best community to be in’

By Scott Yoshonis | Staff Writer

Thibodaux physician Justin Tenney addresses attendees during the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department’s annual joint meeting at the Thibodaux Civic Center in January. Tenney will serve as the 2019 Firemen’s Fair grand marshal.

[The Courier and Daily Comet/File]

Dr. Justin Tenney has Thibodaux in his blood. So when asked to serve as grand marshal of this year’s Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair parade, he did not hesitate to accept.

A 1994 graduate of E.D. White Catholic High, Tenney has been a physician in Thibodaux for the past 12 years, having returned home after his medical studies took him to Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Pittsburgh, with a spell in a FEMA trailer after Hurricane Katrina.

“It felt like it was growing up,” Tenney said. “This is the best community to be in. I’m proud to serve these guys as grand marshal. I see what these men and women do for us, and I’m glad to do something for them.”

Tenney, 43, returned to Thibodaux with his wife Leslie and two sons, John Ellis, 16 and Michael, 13, and then welcomed a daughter, Mary Ellen, 9 to the family.

His specialty is head and neck surgery, which he practices at Southern ENT in Thibodaux.

Tenney said his experience after Katrina in 2005 instilled in him a strong sense of duty and community service, as well as an appreciation for the good times in life, two things the Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair are all about.

“I think, largely because of the molding of that experience, I wanted to give something back,” he said. “We try to stay active in the community. I became captain of Chronos in the past, not because I’m an insane Mardi Gras person but because I like to dance with my wife and I like to have a good time.”

Tenney called being named grand marshal “a tremendous honor” but also the biggest service project of his life.

“I’m young enough that I was able to immerse myself in the Fire Department, to feel what some of the new recruits feel,” he said.

“Even though my tenure as grand marshal is somewhat condensed, I want to make a difference for years to come. That’s how I view this role.”

Staff Writer Scott Yoshonis can be reached at 850-1148 or syoshonis@houmatoday.com.

Follow him on Twitter @Foster_Cajun.

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GRAND OPENING

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Poster’s artist has special connection with the fair

By Scott Yoshonis | Staff Writer

Until the 1980s, paintings by Billy Ledet gave a splash of color and life to the Firemen’s Fair’s annual poster.

After that, the appearance of an artistic, collectable poster was sporadic at best.

But that tradition is coming back to life thanks to local architect E.A. Angelloz.

Angelloz created a decoupage piece that became the basis for last year’s limited-edition poster, which was sold to help in the fair’s fundraising efforts.

He donated the original piece to be auctioned off itself to raise even more money.

This year, Angelloz is spearheading the effort to make the artistic poster a regular part of the fair again.

“Because there was none done in 2017, I said, ‘Look, we’re not going to let this happen again,’ ” Angelloz said. “’We’re going to find somebody to do

one, even if I have to do another one.’”

Martha Thomassie has created this year’s poster, with a painting that will be auctioned off on Sunday. The posters featuring the print of the painting, which is acrylic on canvas, will be on sale at the Fair.

Thomassie, who grew up in Thibodaux, where she still lives, earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Nicholls State University and a master’s degree in gifted education from Louisiana State University.

She started producing and teaching art full-time 10 years ago.

She said that the project resonated on a personal level.

“I wanted it to reflect pride in our community and the pride the firemen have,” Thomassie said. “My dad was a firemen, all my uncles were firemen, I grew up going to the parade. My dad was proud to be a fireman.”

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The official poster of the 2019 Firemen’s Fair, from a painting

by Martha Thoassie of Thibodaux.

[Submitted]

Best of Luck Firemen on a Successful Fair!

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LET’S HAVE A PARADE The Firemen’s Fair Parade, one of the festival’s highlights, starts at 11 a.m. Sunday near St. Joseph Elementary, 501 Cardinal Drive. It proceeds down Menard, 5th and St. Mary’s streets then turns down Tiger Drive and ends at the fairgrounds.

Here are some scenes from past parades in photos from the Daily Comet and The Courier.

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Supporting the fair is supporting the community

Members of the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department participate in the fair’s annual parade. [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]

By Dan Copp | Staff Writer Operating the largest volunteer fire department in the country does not come cheap.

In addition to manpower, the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department depends on the community’s support to keep its operation afloat. That is why supporting the Firemen’s Fair is so important, organizers said.

“The money from the fair is a part of our budget,” Fire Chief Chad Mire said. “It goes toward maintenance, insurance, training and equipment.”

With an annual budget of about $2 million, the 480-member department equips its volunteers with state-ofthe-art gear, which helps the department maintain its high rating with the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana. The group ranks fire departments every five years on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best.

Thibodaux’s Class 3 rating means the average annual property insurance policy for a $150,000 home costs about $1,299 a year, according to the Louisiana Department of Insurance. The amount varies depending on property values and each insurance company’s rate schedule.

The fair, which raised about $824,000 last year, raises the

money necessary to help the department maintain that rating, which also saves homeowners money in the long run, Mire said.

“It determines a part of what your premiums are going to be for homeowners’ insurance,” Mire said.

“There are a lot of factors that go into the rating, like water supply, equipment and communications. It’s a big process to go through.”

The department responded to 366 fire calls in 2018 compared to 301 the previous year, Mire said. There were a total of 6,415 responses to these calls for an average of 15 firefighters per call.

Physician Justin Tenney, this year’s grand marshal, said the fair represents a symbol of the community’s longtime commitment to volunteerism.

“As I was reading through the history of the Fire Department, I saw there always was a sense of community and volunteerism,” Tenney said. “There were waiting lists to get into the Fire Department.

That’s how much people wanted to identify themselves with a group of people that were the best of the best because they wanted to protect your property and your family. The Fire Department has been able to maintain the volunteerism that historically all Americans wanted to be a part of.”

THyouNK8 d home, n a t r a e save h firefighters.” o t y a very d hanking our e o d y e "For all th us i n t n i o j e s plea

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Free parking available in and around the fairgrounds

By Julia Arenstam Staff Writer All weekend long, parking for the Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair is free.

Every year, the department reminds fairgoers that no one has to pay to park.

Parking is available at the fairgrounds parking lot off Tiger Drive, at Thibodaux High School, at St. Genevieve Catholic Church and along public roadways.

The fairgrounds from above. [Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair]

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The department also purchased property behind the True Value Hardware store on Tiger Drive for additional parking if there’s not too much rain, Chief Chad Mire said.

Handicapped parking is reserved along Tiger Drive next to the fairgrounds.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and Thibodaux Police Department will also be providing security in and around the festival grounds.

Members of the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department participate in the fair’s annual parade. [The Courier and Daily Comet/File]

THANK YOU, FIREMEN! WE SUPPORT YOU!

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Food: ‘You’re talking 20,000 hamburgers in a weekend’

By Scott Yoshonis Staff Writer There are a lot of different foods at the Firemen’s Fair, as one would expect in south Louisiana, but the consistent favorite of is not gumbo or jambalaya or white beans.

“People, for some reason, come for the Firemen’s Fair hamburgers,” Chief Chad Mire said.

“They’re fresh patties made by Bourgeois Meat Market; they deliver them fresh.”

Perhaps one reason for the popularity of the burgers is that they are not griddled on a flat-top but flame-broiled in a grilling setup made especially for the fair.

“We have two machines that are belt-driven,” Mire said. “They go in the back raw and come out the front cooked.”

The grills have a bit of history behind them. The original was

manned by fireman Ed Naquin, who kept the machine going for as long as he could. But it finally gave up the ghost due primarily to the lack of available replacement parts.

The department took the grill to Southern Fabrication of Louisiana in Bayou Blue to see if it could custom-make the parts.

What the department got instead was a whole new grill.

“They took it as a challenge, and they basically came up with a machine,” Mire said.”

When the original was finally dead, Southern Fab created a second. The two it made are now mainstays of the fair.

“We have the two running pretty much at all times,” Mire said. “It just depends on the crowds.

Sometimes you have to run it wide open; you’re talking 20,000 Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair 2016 grand marshal, Dr. Kenneth Cruse, hamburgers in a weekend.” drops burgers on the grill at the fairgrounds. [File]

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Put on your running shoes and join the fun

By Scott Yoshonis Staff Writer One of the more recent traditions associated with the Firemen’s Fair is the annual 5K Run, now in its ninth year.

The run has two distinctive elements to it, both reflecting the occasion.

First, runners will be cooled off with a spray of water cascading from fire hoses pointed in the air.

Randy Pate, race coordinator, said that will happen as runners pass by Fire Station No.1 downtown.

“That’s kind of the midpoint of the race, so we set up out water station there,” Pate said.

Another tradition is the firefighters themselves walking the course, the whole 3.1-mile course, in full firefighting gear.

“They won’t run it, but they will walk it,” he said. “It’s a unique sight.”

The run usually attracts between 250 and 350 participants.

The Fun Run begins at the fairgrounds entrance at 7:30 a.m., and the 5k begins at 8 a.m.

The route will bring participants through Thibodaux’s historic Downtown District before leading them to the finish line at the fairgrounds entrance, where commemorative Firemen’s Race Medals and refreshments will be waiting for everyone who crosses the finish line.

Those who wish to participate in either event may register on the Friday afternoon of the fair and at registration tables Saturday morning. Registration fee for the race is $30, $20 for the fun run.

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Runners head toward the 5K finish line.

[THIBODAUX FIREMEN’S FAIR]

Thank You, Firemen!

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FUN AND GAMES Thrill seekers will have plenty of Carnival rides from which to choose, including the Ferris wheel, Tilt-a-Whirl, bumper cars, Yoyo, a roller coaster and various others. You can also your luck at carnival games and a chance to win prizes.

Bracelets for pay-one-price rides are $22 and can be used from 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m Saturday.

Regular tickets are $1.25 each, with children’s rides costing two tickets per person and three for adults. Guests can also purchase a pack of 22 tickets for $25 and 55 for $60.

Here’s a look at some of the fun and games from last year’s fair in photos from the Daily Comet and The Courier.

Ellie Raynal of Thibodaux, 5, fishes in a carnival game.

Declan Fremin (front) of Thibodaux and his twin sister, Finley, both 5, enjoy a slide.

The fun house.

A boy takes a spin on a motorcycle ride.

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Festivalgoers take a ride on the Yo-Yo.

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Crowds wind among the Carnival rides.

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Shoulder Surgery Sports Medicine Total Joint Replacement

Neil J. Maki, M.D.

602 N. Acadia Road, Suite 101 Arthroscopic surgery Shoulder Surgery Thibodaux, LA 70301 Fracture Care Sports Medicine 985.446.6284 Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery Total Joint Replacement

PAST GRAND MARSHALL