Gueydan, Louisiana. Mamou, Louisiana. Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Lafayette, Louisiana. Ossun, Louisiana. Eunice, Louisiana.

If you want authenticity at your Cajun/zydeco festival, and the artists performing are from the above communities in southwest Louisiana, you're in really good shape.

As a matter of fact, the above towns ARE the hometowns to the big names appearing today through Sunday at the 23rd Annual Blast from the Bayou Festival at Strawberry Park Campground in Preston. Headliners include Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie (Saturday and Sunday), Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys (Friday and Saturday), The Pine Leaf Boys (Saturday), Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys (Saturday and Sunday) and Yvette Landry (Friday), and all four days are filled with the finest Cajun and zydeco acts in the world.

Count on music workshops, dance lessons, indigenous foods and plenty of family fun, as well.

Blast from the Bayou Festival, 5-10 p.m. Thurs., 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Sun., Strawberry Park Campground, 42 Pierce Road, Preston; $60 Thurs., $80 Sun., $85 Fri. and Sat., $160 four-day pass; eliteresorts.com, (860) 886-1944.