UPDATE June 20, 4:15pm | Just a reminder that this weekend, June 25 and 26, is the 25th annual Long Beach Bayou and Blues Festival, where Rainbow Lagoon Park will be transformed into a N’awlins-style celebration.

Besides the incredible line up of bands and other artists set to perform on two stages, the two-day event will feature a Mardi Gras parade, French Quarter marketplace, dancing lessons and an activity tend for the little ones.

Additional details, including ticket information, can be found below.

Photos (from last year’s event) by photographer Dale Brown.

  

May 25, 7:12am | The Long Beach Bayou & Blues Festival is now just a month away, and the 2011 lineup is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Headlining this year”s event will be recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dr. John. He will be joined by Guitar Shorty, Barbara Morrison, Geno Delafose and a slew of other groups and performers set to take the two stages at Rainbow Lagoon Park June 25 – 26.

The first day of the annual Long Beach music festival, which will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., will feature Morrison along with White Boy James, DW3, Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners, the San Diego Cajun Playboys, Dave Sousa & the Zydeco Mudbugs, among others. Day 2 will  run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and feature Dr. John and The Lower 911 plus Guitar Shorty, Delafose and his band the French Rockin’ Boogie, Seville, Charlie Jené, Bonne Musique Zydeco and more. Appearing both days will be Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco band.

A Mardi Gras parade led by the New Orleans Traditional jazz band is among an array of additional attractions, including a French Quarter marketplace complete with traditional N’awlins fare, crawfish- and watermelon-eating contests, dance lessons at the Bayou Stage and arts-and-crafts tents for the little ones.

Tickets are $30 at the gate each day of the weekend-long event. Discounted tickets may be purchased in advance for $25. Specially priced tickets for seniors 60 or older and students 18 or older are $20, while students 13 – 17 can obtain tickets for $10. Children ages 12 and under get in free. VIP passes are also being sold for $65 and include backstage access, preferred seating and meal and drink tickets.

To purchase tickets, call 562-424-0013 or click here.