Every year, the first weekend in November, the New Orleans Audubon Zoo hosts the Swamp Festival.
The multiple day event features some of the BEST Cajun bands, local artisans, and the best Cajun food around!
As the Zoo has an extensive swamp exhibit, there are special activities and presentations, featuring the Swamp Animal Nursery and animals from the Zoo's collection.
Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day, kiddo went with Grandpa and I for a fun filled family day!
Can you believe this is a THREE year old alligator?
Come to find out- they grow wider after they get about 7 years old, up til then they grow in length. And yes, that long tail can HURT!
The handler here had been 'slapped' quite a few times already by her unhappy charge and had some lovely bruises starting on her legs and arms!
Do you know how to tell a male and female turtle apart? Yup, that's what I thought! We learned that males have concave under shells. Well what do ya know- I had no idea!
And of course the HIGHLIGHT of the day was seeing and hearing Michael Doucet avec Beau Soleil! They are truly the premier Cajun band (you might remember them from Mary Chapin Carpenter's song, Down at the twist and Shout (But here up north it's a cold, cold rain, And there ain't no cure for my blues today, Except when the paper says Beau Soleil Is a-coming into town, baby let's go down...)
Here's a wonderful performance from them in September in CA.
Kiddo had a blast 'climbing the mountain' at the petting zoo,
and politely informed us that 'we need one of these next to her
fort in the backyard". Luckily Papa paid attention and took some
eyeball measurements, cause she was serious!
Everyone needs to hug an elephant now and then!
The multiple day event features some of the BEST Cajun bands, local artisans, and the best Cajun food around!
As the Zoo has an extensive swamp exhibit, there are special activities and presentations, featuring the Swamp Animal Nursery and animals from the Zoo's collection.
Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day, kiddo went with Grandpa and I for a fun filled family day!
Can you believe this is a THREE year old alligator?
Come to find out- they grow wider after they get about 7 years old, up til then they grow in length. And yes, that long tail can HURT!
The handler here had been 'slapped' quite a few times already by her unhappy charge and had some lovely bruises starting on her legs and arms!
Do you know how to tell a male and female turtle apart? Yup, that's what I thought! We learned that males have concave under shells. Well what do ya know- I had no idea!
And of course the HIGHLIGHT of the day was seeing and hearing Michael Doucet avec Beau Soleil! They are truly the premier Cajun band (you might remember them from Mary Chapin Carpenter's song, Down at the twist and Shout (But here up north it's a cold, cold rain, And there ain't no cure for my blues today, Except when the paper says Beau Soleil Is a-coming into town, baby let's go down...)
Here's a wonderful performance from them in September in CA.
and politely informed us that 'we need one of these next to her
fort in the backyard". Luckily Papa paid attention and took some
eyeball measurements, cause she was serious!Everyone needs to hug an elephant now and then!
And finally a Big hello and goodbye from Rex the white tiger!
