Brand New Lafcadio Fest
On Saturday, June 20, the Japan Society of New Orleans and the New Orleans Jazz Museum will host the first annual Lafcadio Fest, honoring the legacy of author Lafcadio Hearn.
About Hearn
Lafcadio Hearn was born in Greece in 1850 and traveled the world, collecting stories and writing about his experiences in New Orleans and Japan. Hearn is best known for recording New Orleans folklore, for creating one of the first Creole cookbooks, La Cuisine Creole, and for introducing Japanese culture and literature to the West. He loved writing about supernatural and unusual topics, such as in his famous book Kwaidan, and Hearn wrote about New Orleans with deep admiration and curiosity. He lived in many places until eventually settling in Matsue, Japan, which is now New Orleans' sister city.
Programming
The festival will be a one-day event from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. There will be a panel of scholars from all over the world who have studied Hearn's work. The keynote speaker will be Steve Kemme, author of The Outsider: The Life and Work of Lafcadio Hearn, The Man Who Introduced Voodoo, Creole Cooking, and Japanese Ghosts to the World. The founder of Krewe of Lafcadio, John Kelly, and designer Caroline Thomas, who designs the krewe's floats, will also speak.
There will also be programming to honor Hearn's connection to Japan, specifically Matsue. The festival will feature food by Greta Sushi, who blends Japanese cuisine with Louisiana seafood. The mayor of Matsue, Akihito Uesada, and Hearn's own great-grandson, Bon Koizum, will virtually visit to tell his story. There will also be a sake toast for Hearn's 176th birthday and musical surprises.
Community members will have a chance to reflect on the connections between New Orleans and Matsue and to honor Hearn's work through this festival.
Entry
The event is completely free and open to the public. For more information and scheduling updates, visit japansocietyofneworleans.org/Lafcadio-Fest and follow @lafcadiofest on Instagram.
