Lafayette, LA – The Third Annual Creole Festival and Gumbo Cook-Off is set to take place this weekend at the historic Albania Mansion, located just outside of Jeanerette, in St. Mary Parish. The highly anticipated event is expected to draw large crowds for a day of food, music, and community celebration, but it comes with a layer of complexity due to the mansion’s deep historical roots.
Albania Mansion, a three-story home built in the early 1800s, was constructed by enslaved African Americans, and its history remains a point of both pride and pain for many. Liz Creel, the mansion’s current owner and a New Orleans native, has worked diligently to preserve the property while also confronting its painful past.
“I know some people are uneasy about the history of the place,” said Creel, reflecting on mixed reactions from friends and others about the venue’s association with slavery. “One of my friends in particular was like, ‘I can’t believe you would buy that place.'”
Despite these mixed emotions, Creel is committed to ensuring that the history of Albania Mansion is acknowledged and preserved. She believes that the mansion stands as a testament to the resilience of the enslaved people who built it, and she hopes that visitors will remember the mansion’s past as they enjoy the festivities.
“My belief is that what they did is they left us a message in a bottle, and that message is, ‘I am somebody, I am important,’” Creel explained. “I left this magnificent, beautiful piece of architecture so that one day, somebody might say, ‘Tell me about the people who actually built this place.’”
The Creole Festival, which will feature 19 gumbo chefs competing in an annual cook-off, is set to be a highlight of the weekend. Jeanie Clements, president of the Creole Festival, said the competition will begin early in the morning, with chefs preparing their gumbo dishes for attendees to enjoy throughout the day.
Admission to the festival is free, with additional activities such as pony rides, gumbo tastings, and drinks in the children’s area available for purchase. Three live bands will also perform throughout the day on the mansion’s grounds, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Perhaps most notably, the event aims to raise funds for the revitalization of Jeanerette. According to Clements, 100 percent of the proceeds from the festival will be used for refurbishing the city, a cause that is important to both the local community and the festival organizers.
As festival-goers enjoy the lively event, they are also encouraged to take a moment to reflect on the mansion’s history. A plaque on the property is dedicated to educating visitors about the enslaved laborers who built the estate, ensuring that the legacy of those who lived and worked there is not forgotten.
“We have to take the hard road, we can’t look away,” Creel said, emphasizing the importance of confronting and learning from the difficult aspects of the mansion’s history.
The Third Annual Creole Festival and Gumbo Cook-Off promises to be more than just a celebration of Creole culture. It is an opportunity to engage with the past, reflect on the legacy of slavery, and support the future of Jeanerette—all while enjoying the best gumbo the region has to offer.