It was the finale to the Folk Roots Music Camp with an outdoor performance Thursday afternoon by participants in the 4-day long kids music camp.
Louisiana Folk Roots returned to Opelousas for a second year of Music Camp at Le Vieux Village. The program is lead by talented musicians and instructors sharing Cajun and Creole culture with the next generation. During the week-long camp kids learned how to play traditional Cajun and Creole songs through fun and interactive music labs.
At the close of the program, the kids showcased their skills with an outdoor performance on the porch of the Orphan Train Museum. Family members and guests gathered to come out and enjoy the performances under the shade of the live oak trees.
Fiddle, guitar and accordion classes were the main focus of the program, but the kids also engaged in fun activities ranging from crafts, singing and special STEM experiments. I asked the campers what they enjoyed most out of the camp experience. Their response shockingly was the ‘exploding watermelon’ – an experiment that consists of adding multiple layers of rubber bands around a watermelon until it bursts.
I spoke with Sarah, one of the instructors for the program, who told me camp participants draw in from beyond just St. Landry Parish. I learned that some of the participants came from New Orleans and even as far as Texas, learning about the creative culture.
“It’s been fun to work with these highly motivated and talented kids this week.”
The budding musicians ranged from all skill levels and ages from 8 years to 13 years old. It was amazing to see what they were able to accomplish in just 4 days together.
