Photo: Tom Mhire, Yvonne Normand, Easton Shelvin, Madelyn Rosette
Photo by FREDDIE HERPIN, Photographer
BOBBY ARDOIN
Contributing Writer
The first annual Opelousas Love Fest scheduled Sunday in North City Park is aimed at creating a more unified community by featuring a day-long series of free family-oriented activities, according to members of the Opelousas Sunrise and After Dark Rotary clubs, which are sponsoring the event.
“This day is a time where we are inviting all parts of the community to take part in a full day of picnics, fellowship building and enjoyment of friendship along with a number of activities that will be occurring throughout the day,” said Sunrise Rotary member Yvonne Normand.
Club members said the event will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude around 7 p.m.
Those who arrive at 10 a.m. will be able to attend a worship service.
Normand said many of the city’s youth groups will be involved and recognized along with local churches and civic organizations.
“It’ a day where we are going to celebrate the city, the love of fellowship and of building better families,” Normand said.
Tom Mire, president of the Opelousas Sunrise Rotary Club told the Opelousas Board of Aldermen during a February meeting that the two civic clubs decided to host the Love Fest project as a way of improving overall community spirit.
“We (club members) were looking for a way to engage the youth and their families in addition to energizing our community. We decided that in order to do that, we were going to host it at North City Park as a way of demonstrating that desire to unify the community,” Mier said.
Parish Council member Easton Shelvin some of the activities will be a three-on-three basketball tournament, live bands and places that are set aside for picnics and vendors’ booths.
Shelvin added plans also include a car show along with featuring several local DJ’s who will help provide music.
Curley Taylor and Patrick Henry are two of the bands scheduled to provide live music, said Shelvin.
Madelyn Rosette told the Council that there is free space which will be provided for booths.
Rosette said those attending the event are encouraged to bring their tents and lawn chairs.
