For three days beginning July 2, the Mandeville Lakefront Harbor will be bustling with the sights, sounds and glorious smells of the 27th Annual Mandeville Seafood Festival. Bill Dobson has volunteered with the festival since its inception, and has served as president of the Greater Mandeville Seafood Festival Association since 1984.

Since 1990, the festival has donated more than $100,000 to the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. What other organizations does it benefit?

We support various area charities, including Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, the Mandeville Trailhead, Kids Konnection, Keep Mandeville Beautiful, STARC, Fire District No. 4, Volunteers of America, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Mandeville City Police, the American Heart Association, and many more.

In the past 27 years, have all the festivals been held on the Mandeville lakefront?

All but five. From 1985 to 1990, it was held at Fontainebleau State Park. The citizens of Mandeville encouraged the Seafood Association to move the event back to the harbor where it originated. The move had an immediate positive effect on attendance.
 
This year’s event is dedicated to Louisiana’s Fallen Heroes. What are some of the activities designed to recognize these individuals?

We’ll have the presentation of the colors by local honor guards each morning, singing of the National Anthem, a static display of military vehicles and equipment, and a military fly-by on the 4th of July. We would like to see every home and business in Mandeville display the American flag during this holiday weekend.
 
The Seafood Fest is known for its wonderful 4th of July fireworks display. Any new additions to the show this year?

Pyrotecnico of Louisiana will produce the show once again, which is choreographed to music, and shot over the lake. This year will be the biggest ever!
 
What have you found to be the most rewarding aspect of your involvement with the festival?

Being able to give back to the community, and to see all the people who enjoy our beautiful lakefront and harbor area. With good weather throughout the event last year, we were able to make some very substantial donations to very worthy charity causes and public agencies.
 
How many people do you anticipate will visit the Seafood Festival this year?

We estimate the attendance to be approximately 30,000 over the three days. Seniors over 65 and kids under 10 are admitted free. This year, active duty military and reserve members in uniform or with proper ID will also be admitted free.

Are there any new attractions planned for 2005?

For the first time, we will have an air-conditioned children’s entertainment tent. I plan to spend plenty of time in there!
 
The line up of the Mandeville Seafood Festival’s entertainment is unrivaled and always much anticipated. Who is your favorite act?

Really, I like them all. Donna Varnado and Rick Windhorst have done a fantastic job booking our musical groups over the years. They have some diversity in the music that really appeals to a wide selection of our attendees. How can you beat the TopCats, The Boggiemen, Bag of Donuts, The Chee-Wheez, Four Unplugged, The Blue Meanies, and Vieux Carre’?

Copyright 2005, M&L Publishing, all rights reserved.