The 63 year old event had been held at the Fort since the 1970s when it moved from its original location in Buras. With the great destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in August, 2005, organizers staged the event at the Medal of Honor Park in Belle Chasse where it has been held for the past 4 years and will again be held in December, 2009.
“We know there is a great desire in the South Plaquemines community to see the Orange Festival return to Fort Jackson,” said Board President Anthony Buras. “The board and membership agrees that South Plaquemines is indeed the true home of the Festival and we want to make the move back with sufficient improvements being in place to accommodate our event. We believe that can be accomplished by December, 2010,” he added. The decision of the Orange Festival board came after 2 general membership meetings held both in Belle Chasse and Port Sulphur where the matter was discussed. The progress and extent of the repairs completed at Fort Jackson by 2010 will determine if the event can be staged inside of the Fort as it was traditionally or if a new arrangement will be needed adjacent to the Fort.
This year’s event is set for December 4, 5, and 6 at the Medal of Honor Park in Belle Chasse with a schedule of entertainment to be released in the near future.
Plaquemines Parish Fair & Orange Festival
PO Box 158
Belle Chasse, LA 70037
Phone:
Fax: |
504-656-7599
504-656-4000 |
Email: orangefestival@cmaaccess.com
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"Blossom", "Man-Darin" and Plaquemines Parish Citrus
MEETING UPDATES
NEXT PUBLIC MEETING WILL BE JUNE 9TH
Belle Chasse Library 6:00 p.m.
Mintues of March Special Orange Festival Meeting
March 10, 2009
St. Patrick Family Life Center
Port Sulphur
Meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
The purpose of this special meeting was to discuss the possibility of moving the Orange Festival back to the lower end of the Parish.
There were 50 plus concerned citizens and members in attendance to voice their opinion about the Orange Festival going back to Fort Jackson or other location on the lower end of the Parish.
Mr. Billy Nungesser -- comments that by the end of the year several Parish Building will be under construction. He will help with sponsorship and workers to help get the Festival back to the lower end. He also committed to attend other Festivals to promote the Orange Festival to help us reach our financial goals.
Mrs. Lynda Banta - comments that she is hearing from her district people that the Festival is boring, nothing to do, and that the Crawfish Boil is like a reunion and offers her help and made a commitment to be come a member of the Orange Festival and help in any way she can.
Micheline Kirby - comments that years ago when Mrs. Barbara Hingle was actively involved that the Orange Festival made changes and it is now time for new blood, new changes. If the Festival can be held inside the Fort, then have pavilions outside on the Fort grounds.
JoAnna Cappiello Leopold - commented that the down the road people would have to make a commitment to attend, and we need to speak to the Businesses for their support.
Bonnie Jo Thomas - commented that she has brought several of the Boothville-Venice Elementary School staff and they are here to commit to help in getting the Festival back to the lower end of the Parish.
Judge Michael Kirby - commented that the Belle Chasse area residents did not come out for the Orange Festival when it was at the Fort, nor do they attend since it is in the Belle Chasse area, they just do not come out for anything.
Chuck - with the Buras FIre Dept. - asked - What is the Future of the Fort - is work ready to begin and could it be ready for December?
Response was made by Mr. Nungesser or Mr. Buras -- was that they have a 25 million dollar PW with FEMA to sure up the Fort, but no time frame as to when the Fort would be ready.
Angela Kimble Rogers - said she would help with a committee for volunteers.
Mr. Barney Schoenberger - one of the original organizers of the Orange Festival made comments about how and why the Orange Festival was formed that it was originally held at the Buras School & Auditorium, then moved to the Fort. The “Citrus Belt” was from Port Sulphur to Venice from the beginning and that Belle Chasse did not have a lot of Citrus at that time, it wasn’t until later that the Becnels’ started planting citrus groves.
Other general comments and discussion was to get the 4-H involved like it use to be in the earlier days. Discussion of other locations other than the Fort. Also about a time line for getting the Festival back down the road. There was a lot of discussion about the Crawfish Boil - that is held in March or April, and that is two totally different things, the Crawfish Boil is put on by for Fire Dept., but companies donate the crawfish and have their family, friend and workers do the cooking, it is during the spring, held in the day, no electricity needed - it is comparing Crawfish to Orange - it is TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS. After a lot of back and forth discussion,
Fair Manager, Dale Benoit made comments that the Orange Festival has never said that we “the Orange Festival” didn’t want to go back to the lower end, that we have to have a place to go that will have what is needed to put on the Festival, electricity being # 1. Everyone at the meeting seemed to understand the obstacles of bringing the Festival back to the lower end, and all seem to want to work together to make it happen, if not this year 2009 hopefully the work will start on the Fort Grounds for us to return by 2010.
The meeting adjourned about 9:00 p.m. Several people stayed and visited and offered suggestions and made more comments.
Note: After the meeting, several of those who attended the meeting completed membership application to be an Orange Festival Member. We welcomed them and their support.
Also, there was so much back and forth discussion from several people at one time, I may have missed writing down some of the comments, and I hope the ones I did get down are correct. If you were at the March 10th meeting, please call me with any corrections or comments that I may have missed.
The next regular scheduled Membership meeting is June 9th. Meeting notices will be sent went the time and location has been finialized. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Orange Festival, please send an email to - orangefestival@CMAaccess.com or call 504-656-7599.
