2013 Cajun / Zydeco Festival

Spread the news…we are currently accepting reservations for our 2013 “Blast from the Bayou” Cajun Zydeco Festival June 6-9. Although most RV Rentals, Park Models and Cabins are already filled, campsites, free rough camping and a few rentals do remain open, as well as local hotels and B&Bs. Our 2013 line-up looks to be the best ever, with confirmed performers including Geno Delafose, Steve Riley, Curley Taylor, The Pine Leaf Boys, Lil Wayne & Same Ol 2 Step, The Savoy Family Band & Jesse Lege (additional performers & info below)

2013 Cajun/Zydeco Festival June 6-9, 2013. Our preliminary 2013 Schedule of performers is now posted…2013 CZ Prelim Sched PDF

For 2013, there is plenty of free camping for those with weekend passes, as well as some sites with water, electric, cable (and septic, if needed). Our rental units, including cabins, Park Models and RV rentals, fill quickly, but there are numerous hotels and B&Bs in the area. Day tickets and weekend passes also available by calling 860-886-1944 (Ticket Leap on-line sales will commence April 1, 2013).

Festival tickets may be purchased through Strawberry Park at (860) 886-1944, with early bird ticket prices through December 28, 2012 (advance ticket prices throuh March 31…or for those who prefer to have no interaction over the phone, tickets may be purchased online through TicketLeap starting April 1 (additional processing fee applies) by clicking on the “Buy Tickets” link below (until 6/2, after which “gate price” would apply). After June 2, tickets may only be purchased by calling Strawberry Park at 860-886-1944 or in cash at the gate for “weekend passes” or individual days (see pricing below).
Click Here to Get Tickets

Local Hotel Info:  While Strawberry Park offers over 50 on-site rental units, they do tend to fill quickly for the festival.  If you are not looking to “rough it” with the free camping that accompanies your festival pass, you may consider local B&Bs (such as nearby Roseledge or Hideaway, or for hotels, the nearest would be the new Hilton Garden Inn (also in Preston, just prior to Foxwoods, opening in March of 2013) or the AmericInn in Griswold (5 miles in the opposite direction).  Remember, for our guests traveling by air, we are about 45 minutes from TF Green in Providence RI and about an hour from Bradley (just north of Hartford).

We are proud to announce our 2013 List of Performers and our preliminary dance instruction & workshops schedule. See the performer schedule here…2013 CZ Prelim Sched PDF

Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie (Louisiana Zydeco/Creole)–Fri & Sat  facebook    Geno on stage 2012 video

Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys (Louisiana Cajun)–Sat & Sun facebook   Video from 2012 Festival Stage

Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble (Louisiana Zydeco)–Sat & Sun facebook

The Pine Leaf Boys (Louisiana Cajun)–Fri & Sat facebook

Lil Wayne & Same Ol 2 Step (Louisiana zydeco)–Fri & Sat facebook  Video from 2012 courtesy of Squash House Media

The Savoy Family Cajun Band(Louisiana Cajun)–Thurs & Fri

Jesse Lege & Bayou Brew (Cajun)–Sat & Sun facebook

Li’l Anne & Hot Cayenne (New York Zydeco)–Thurs & Fri facebook

Planet Zydeco (New England Zydeco)–Sunday

JimmyJo & The Jumbol’ayuhs (Maine Cajun)–Thur & Fri

C’est Bon (Northeast Cajun)–Sunday facebook

Johnny Ace & Sidewalk Zydeco (Northeast Zydeco)– Sunday facebook

Program & Performers Subject to Change

We are proud to host our 17th annual festival featuring the best music, food and dancing from the bayous and cities of Louisiana. Our large wooden dance floors at two separate venues (including our newest dance floor at the Rec Center stage, doubling the dance area at that venue) offer plenty of room to dance to the bands and learn all the right moves from our dance instructors. A campsite with water, electric and cable TV is $168 from anytime Thursday through 6PM on Sunday, ($192 for w/e/c and sewer). Each campsite or rental reservation must be for at least 2 adults, with no additional charge for children under 13 (festival passes for teenagers 13-17 are ½ price). Please note that campsites for this weekend are ONLY available for festival attendees, and all members of your camping party who are 13 and older must purchase a festival pass (1/2 price for teenagers 13-17). Adult festival early bird camper passes are $95 per person (ages 18 & over) before December 29, 2012, with advance pricing of $105 from January 2 until March 31, and April 1 until June 2 at $115 ($125 per adult after June 2 and at the gate—1/2 price for teenagers 13-17), and include free Camping in the Rough (no ground fires, generators or pets allowed, and no hook-ups or picnic tables provided, and there is NOT a 2 ticket minimum for the free Camping in the Rough). Rough Camping options include the “quiet side” or the “Pickin’, Playin’ & Dancin’ side”. Day Visitor passes may be purchased in advance (reduced rate), or at the gate (cash only). Authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine will be served for sale by professional food vendors. If you are reserving for both our Bluegrass Festival (May 30-June 2) & Cajun/Zydeco, please call early, as campsites fill quickly ($10 discount off site fee for Cajun Weekend if reserving for both weekends).

Please read our cancellation policy carefully regarding any site or rental cancellation. NOTE: There is NO REFUND for any festival passes purchased.

Campsite fees are for entire extended weekend of 9AM Thursday until Sunday 6PM (minimum of 2 paid adult festival passes per site or rental reservation must be purchased–there is NOT a 2 ticket minimum for the free Rough Camping)

*Festival tickets may be purchased through Strawberry Park at (860) 886-1944, or may be purchased online through Ticket Leap if you prefer the computer keyboard instead of calling (processing fees apply when using Ticket Leap) starting April 1 until June 2 (after which, cash at the gate or call us at 860-886-1944 for last-minute orders). Please note that if you are reserving a campsite, a rental unit or camping in the rough, you MUST reserve directly through Strawberry Park. Ticket Leap may be used for purchasing day tickets or full weekend passes for those who do NOT need camping reservations.

NOTE: There is NO REFUND for any festival passes purchased.

Per Person Festival Fees for those 18 years of age and over (1/2 price for teenagers 13-17, and children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult)

*Day Visitors at the gate who wish to stay for the afternoon session ONLY on Friday or Saturday will be charged the full daily pass upon arrival and refunded $10 upon departure prior to the evening session (out by 6PM).

Day Tickets do not include “after hours dances” and require departure by 11:30PM. Day Visitors wishing to stay beyond departure times are invited to do so for an overnight fee of $10. Full remaining session fees must be paid, new wristbands shall be given, and vehicle must be moved into CIR area. Refund of remaining festival fees (MINUS $10 overnight charge) shall be issued at Gate upon departure & the return of remaining session wristbands ONLY IF PRIOR to start of that session.

Please take a moment to read our rules & regulations. Make sure all members of your camping party are aware of them, especially:

Wristbands must be worn at all times and displayed to any staff member upon request, and are non-transferable
No glass containers in public, including stage area
No keg beer, drugs or open display of alcohol
No audio/video recording equipment
No motorcycles beyond front gate
No walking (or carrying) of pets through the campground–No pets are permitted with any Rough Camping or with Day Visitors. Dogs are allowed with site camping and with select “Dog Friendly” RV rental trailers.
All bikes and scooters must be kept off walkways, and must be back on site by dark. Any bikes out
after dark will be locked up for the safety of our riders. Helmets required for riders under 18.
Do not cut through other campsites–use roads and footpaths
All children & teenagers must be back on their own site by 11PM.
Any children or teenagers out after curfew will be escorted back to site by security.
All vehicles must be parked on site or in thevisitor parking lot. There is no parking at the pools,office, restrooms, or along the side of the road. Park Speed Limit is 8MPH–SLOW DOWN!!

CAMPING IN THE ROUGH (CIR is free with your paid weekend pass)

**No pets–No groundfires–No Saving Spaces—No generators** (no picnic tables or hook-ups are provided with rough camping, but full use of all facilities, including free hot showers, is included). For 2013, a choice of “Quiet Rough” or the “Pickin’, Playin’ and Dancin’ Rough” will be offered.

There is always room available for those camping in the rough. Those reserving in advance save $20 off gate prices.