ELKINS – The Augusta Heritage Center will host a Gumbo Parade and a fais do-do – a traditional, foot-stomping Cajun dance party – as part of its Cajun, Creole & Classic Country workshop week today in downtown Elkins.   

The Gumbo Parade, which will begin at the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA and run down Davis Avenue and Third Street, is scheduled to kick off a long evening of activities off at 6:30 p.m.      

“Fais do-do is a Cajun tradition that we have taken on at Augusta and we kind of made it Augusta-fied, so ours looks a little different than the Cajun tradition, although it is Cajuns that are putting it on,” Augusta Heritage Center Executive Director Seth Young told The Inter-Mountain this week. “All proceeds from this event go to our Cajun Scholarship Fund, which is very near and dear to our hearts…For one week a year Elkins becomes the best place in the world to learn about Cajun culture.”     

The parade will feature children from one of Augusta’s kids programs and host of Cajun musicians.    

“We are going to be having a parade of gumbo,” Young said. “The Old Brick Playhouse has made this wonderful covered wagon and we will be having the children from our Folk Arts for Kids Program, who have been studying cajun culture this week, in their Mardi Gras outfits that they have made and they will be passing out beads… It’s going to be a short parade, but it will be very vibrant and a really good introduction for someone who’s never experienced Augusta’s Cajun and Creole Week. It will be a glimpse into what we are celebrating here.”    

Those participating in and watching the parade will gather in the Augusta Dance Tent at Citizens Bank for a gumbo meal and fundraiser. Admission to the tent is free, but donations will be accepted.   

“When we arrive at the tent after the parade we will have the actual fais do-do gumbo party, serving gumbo to our participants and the community alike,” Young said. “We will eat gumbo and soon thereafter there will be a Cajun dance.”   

The gumbo for the event is being prepared by the Augusta Cajun Cooking Class, which is led by Greg and Michelle Brown, who own a world-renowned Cajun restaurant called DI’s Cajun Restaurant in Basile, Louisiana.   

“Michelle’s parents started their restaurant, so they are the second-generation owners,” Young said. “And I can assure that there is no food out there that is more authentic Cajun.”     

Cajun week instructors and a host of musicians from Louisiana will be performing during the dance. At the conclusion of the parade, City of Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco will read a proclamation to proclaim Elkins and Eunice, Lousianna as sister cities. Eunice is widely regarded as the central hub of Cajun culture.    

For more information on the Augusta Heritage Center and its summer workshops, visit augustaartsandculture.org.