20th Anniversary
2009 Mirliton Festival

Music-Food-Arts & Crafts-T-Shirts

presented by Bywater Neighborhood Association.

Saturday November 7, 2009
11:00a.m.-7:00p.m.
Admission $5.00 - BNA Members $3.00 - Children Under 5 Free
at Markey Park on the corner of
Piety and Royal Streets in Bywater. (map)

Bywater's signature event began in 1989 as a small neighborhood party: Residents celebrated the completion of the annual Bywater Home Tour with a potluck dinner. Friends and neighbors converged on Bud Rip's bar at Piety & Burgundy streets with casserole dishes full of homemade delights. Several of the entrees were made from mirlitons, the local vegetable that is as unusual and beloved as Bywater. Someone (his or her name now lost in the haze of time) joked about the abundance of mirliton dishes. "Hey," said the unwitting prophet, "we should host a festival! Louisiana has festivals for everything, so why not mirlitons?" Thus the Mirliton Festival was born

The following year, 1990, then-BNA president Dixy Robillard took the lead in organizing the event in Mickey Markey Park. Jackie Clarkson, serving her first City Council term, was a prominent visitor. Councilwoman Clarkson was instrumental in getting funding for the park's playground equipment. Music was supplied by the Francis T. Nicholls (now Frederick Douglass) marching band. The Mirliton Festival soon grew in size and scope thanks to the event planning expertise of Bywater residents Sally and Philip Cobb. After an unfortunate cancellation due to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the festival resumed its happy history in 2006 under the guidance of organizers Miwako Hattori and Stephanie Easley. This year's festival was chaired by Chris Lorenzen, with help from a committee of dedicated volunteers.

Over the festival's 20-year history, one thing has remained the same: the Mirliton Festival continues to showcase great music, food, and local art. We hope you enjoyed this year's party. excerpt for Mirliton Festival Program