This weekend will be a busy one in St. Landry Parish. The Holy Ghost Creole Festival, Port Barre Cracklin Festival, and Step-N-Strut will all be taking place this weekend.

Residents in the area can expect an increase in security.

Captain Clay Higgins with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office says they will not tolerate disruptive behavior, “That’s not going to work out well for you if you plan on cutting up at one of these events. You’d be better off to stay home.”

These festivals will bring thousands of people to St. Landry Parish.

Captain Higgins said parish leaders are bringing in extra security to cover these events.

“Folks have just come to know that you know we’re not going to tolerate a certain level of misbehavior and we’re going to have professional deputies on hand so generally speaking, these events have become less problematic,” Higgins said.

Opelousas Police Chief Donald Thompson agreed.

Since these events are happening only a few miles apart, Thompson is urging drivers to be patient, “We’re going to get you through. Of course we’re going to have some detour routes that you can take on the back streets so if you don’t want to get caught up in that (US Highway) 190 traffic.”

Thompson is reminding residents to be aware of the creole festival parade traveling through Opelousas Sunday.

Holy Ghost Pastor, Father Jaison Mangalath, is asking everyone to come with a positive attitude.

“Opelousas is a place of community, family and faith and so our theme of this festival is “We are One in the Spirit”,” said Father Mangalath.

Both Thompson and Higgins urged everyone to have a good time but also to be safe.