No maybe about it, Mayhaw Fest sure to please

“Discover the Magic: Peace, Love and Mayhaw Jelly” is the theme of this year’s Starks Mayhaw Festival set for Thursday through Saturday, May 13-15, on the festival grounds, corner of La. 12 and La. 109.

You can get the traditional mayhaw jelly or you might just want a tree to grow yourself. The Starks fire department will have them for sale.

Other features include hot links and a domino tournament sponsored by the Starks Lions, a presentation on railroad safety by Kansas City Railroad, jelly and butter-churning demonstrations, arts and crafts, talent show, carnival rides and live entertainment.

Starks/Sulphur businessman Tony O’Banion is this year’s parade marshal, as Starks joins El Dorado, Ark., Colquitt, Ga., and Marion, La., in celebrating mayhaws as a southern delicacy.

About 60 vendors are signed up, said Evelyn White with the Starks Business and Civic Association, which is comprised of community members, church organizations and groups such as the Lions and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In addition to the festival, which began in 1993, the association has a hand in New Year’s Eve fireworks, scholarships, Teacher Appreciation Week and safe graduation events.

“All the money raised goes back into the community of Starks,” White said.

Music performances include Kaine Badon, a 13-year-old guitarist from Cameron Parish who says his band is “me and whoever else jumps up”; Clint, Sherry and Zack Faulk, frequent regulars at Larry’s French Market in Port Arthur; Zydecane, which plays a variety of styles (the name is short for “Zydeco meets Hurricane”); and Michael Fruge of the Kadillacs, one of Lake Charles’ best known party bands.

Complete schedule:

Thursday:

4 p.m. – festival opens, food booths, crafts and carnival rides.

5 p.m. – Arlene Stains.

6 p.m. Clint, Sherry and Zack Faulk.

7:30 p.m. – talent show.

8:30 p.m. – CAC Sign Team.

8:45 p.m. – Tracy Craft, door prizes, First Pentecostal Youth.

10 p.m. – festival closes.

Friday:

Dismissal of school.

2:30 p.m. – bike parade lineup, bike parade judging.

3 p.m. – Bike Parade.

4:15 p.m. – Haley Boone.

5 p.m. – Carnival Rides “Hearts of Compassion.”

6:30 p.m. – Berry Brothers.

8 p.m. – CAC and guests.

9:30 p.m. – door prizes.

10 p.m. – gates close.

Saturday:

8:30 a.m. – Biscuits, jelly and fresh-churned butter; butter churning and jelly-making demos; registration of domino tournament.

10 a.m. – children’s games, domino tournament (Lions’ Club building).

Noon – Introduction of Court Winners announced.

1 p.m. – Auction.

3 p.m. – Lamplighters.

4 p.m. – Linda Kay and Kool Katz with Johnny Vee.

6 p.m. – Kaine Badon.

7 p.m. – Zydecane and Michael “Blackbird” Fruge of the Kadillacs.