The 16th Annual Le Festival de la Viande Boucanée, also known as the Smoked Meat Festival, will be observed in Ville Platte Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28.

“When there’s smoke, it must be time for Le Festival de la Viande Boucanée,” according to its promoters, the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 632. This festival features the annual world championship smoked meat cookoff, cookery demonstrations, arts and crafts trade show, food booths, music and military demonstrations.

Admission to the festival is $7, adults, and $1 for children, under 12. Gates will open at 4 p.m. Friday with music beginning at 6 p.m. and open at 8 a.m. Saturday, with music beginning at 10 a.m. This year’s musical lineup includes De Ja Vue, Todd O’Neal, Travis Matte and the Zydeco King Pins on Friday, and Belton Richard and the Musical Aces, Don Fontenot and Les Amis, Bayou Katz Van Broussard, T. Graham Brown and Wayne Toups on Saturday.

This year’s pageant will be Sunday, June 22, at 7 p.m. at the Ville Platte Civic Center. The children’s pageant will be Thursday, June 26, for children, birth to 13 years of age.

To learn more about the festival, visit www.smokedmeatfestival.com, or contact Freddie Pitre at 363-6700.