2011 Festival draws thousands on a beautiful Franklin Parish day

The storm clouds looming earlier in the week parted for a beautiful day Saturday as Franklin Parish celebrated the silver anniversary of the annual Catfish Festival in historic downtown Winnsboro.

For the 25th year in a row, thousands of visitors packed the fairways and entertainment areas of the largest one-day festival in the state.

“It was a great crowd on a hot day,” said Paul Price, Director of the Catfish Festival. “Everything went really well. My hat goes off to Skipper Stinson and the city crew. Without them, there would be no festival.

Price refers to the transformation the city undergoes after the festival is over as the “Catfish Festival Miracle.”

“On Sunday morning by noon, most folks would be hard pressed to even know that a festival had been held the day before. They do a great job – before, during and after the festival.”

The musical line-up included everything from rhythm and blues to pop and zydeco. Grammy winners Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band and blues rocker T. Graham Brown, along with Christian artists The Isaacs and 33Miles were among the headlining performers.

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