Night of Louisiana brings New Orleans experience to Finch Fieldhouse

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Louisiana may be over 1,000 miles away, but Mount Pleasant could still savor its culture Saturday night.

CMU experienced the tastes and sounds of New Orleans during the 20th annual Night of Louisiana in Finch Fieldhouse. University Events and CMU Public Broadcasting co-hosted the community-gathering event, which more than 1,000 people attended.

Bob Ebner, director of University Events, said the event was really about the music.

“It exposes the community to a whole different venue of music,” he said. “The idea is to bring the flavor of New Orleans here. That’s really what I try to do.”

The night featured zydeco, a form of Louisiana Creole folk music, groups, CJ Chenier and the Grammy Award-nominated Lost Bayou Ramblers, as well as a cash bar and Cajun food provided by Aramark.

Elwell resident Kay Rice said she comes every year for the dancing at the “great community event.”

“I’ve come for the last four years,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Keith Voeks, assistant director of University Events, said the community feel is exactly the goal of this event.

“It’s really just a way for us to kind of give back, give something for Isabella County, Mount Pleasant, to do in the wintertime,” he said.

Night of Louisiana is typically hosted on the last Saturday in January.

Ebner first developed the idea for Night of Louisiana after he took a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras 20 years ago.

He discussed the idea with Robert Barclay, director of photography for University Communications, and the first Night of Louisiana was brought to fruition.

“It was successful, and I didn’t want to let it die,” he said. “So we went on to the second one, and the third one, and 20 years later, here we are.”

Voeks said Night of Louisiana is about the best time you’ll have on two feet in mid-Michigan.

“We’ve been doing this for 20 years,” he said. “We’re bringing that rich culture of Louisiana and the Cajun and the Creole style here along with a little bit of its flavor to Mount Pleasant.”

Mount Pleasant resident Penny Cook made her first appearance at Night of Louisiana this year.

“My husband loves zydeco music,” she said. “He was here 20 years ago on their first one and wanted to come back for their 20th anniversary.”

Though Night of Louisiana is popular with Mount Pleasant and the surrounding communities, Ebner said a lot of students at CMU don’t even know about the event.

“Students really haven’t bought into it yet because I don’t think they’re really familiar with the music or the style,” he said.

Ebner said Night of Louisiana is so effective, he’s even heard of some visitors being enticed to travel to New Orleans for the true experience.