Advance tickets to go on sale this month 

Por Wendy Lemlin

With 10,000 pounds of crawfish ready to be devoured; dance floors filled with thousands of pairs of feet, twirling to Cajun waltzes and joyously two-stepping to a lively creole zydeco beat; the lilt of fiddles, the syncopation of rub-boards, the trill of accordions filling the balmy air … yes, you could be in the Cajun Country of Southwest Louisiana, but if it’s the second weekend in May, you can skip the heat and humidity of the Gulf Coast and head instead to Spanish Landing Park, across from the San Diego International Airport for the 14th annual Gator by the Bay Festival, held May 7 – 10. Money-saving advance tickets will be on sale soon!

The festival is an annual must-do event that showcases Grammy award-winning Cajun and zydeco artists directly from Louisiana, legendary Chicago and California blues performers, rockabilly and roots musicians and award-winning salsa and Latin bands.

Enthusiasts not only come from California, but also 39 different states, Canada, Mexico, even Europe and Asia to eat every last one of those crawfish, soak up the Southern California sunshine and dance their boots off on the shores of San Diego Bay.

Three-time Grammy winners and nationally known Cajun band Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet — who have appeared on NPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion” more times than any other musical guest — are a musical headliner this year.

Other headliners include multiple Grammy-nominated Louisiana Cajun band Pine Leaf Boys; Louisiana zydeco artists Terry & the Zydeco Bad Boys; Houston zydeco band Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers; Bay Area blues/jazz/roots/swing music artists California Honeydrops; Chicago blues legends Corky Siegel, Sam Lay, Barry Goldberg and Marcella Detroit; Fabulous Thunderbirds blues alums Kid Ramos and Kim Wilson with Blues Music Award winner Kid Andersen; and New Orleans rockabilly stars Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue.

Additionally, there will be a full roster of local favorites including Johnny Vernazza, Sue Palmer, Missy Andersen, Bayou Brothers, Euphoria Brass Band, Big John Anderson, Zydeco Mudbugs, Theo and the Zydeco Patrol, Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters, Manny Cepeda, Bill Magee, and many, many more.

With five dedicated dance floors, an extensive food court featuring Louisiana and local delicacies, a kids’ fun area, free dance lessons, bayou-style cooking demos, music and culture workshops, and even a daily Mardi Gras parade, Gator by the Bay is more than just a music festival. It has become a San Diego tradition and the place to bring your momma for Mother’s Day.

For more information, including tickets, which range from $25 — $200, visit GatorByTheBay.com.

—Wendy Lemlin es una galardonada escritora independiente con sede en San Diego. Ella puede ser contactada en [email protected].