Around Acadiana for Oct. 9, 2012

Lafayette’s Fifth annual Boudin Cook-Off will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 20 at Parc Sans Souci downtown.

More than 20 cooking teams are slated to compete.

The event also features live music, children’s activities, a boudin-eating contest and a boudin toss.

Proceeds benefit the Historic Preservation Alliance of Lafayette.

For information, visit www.boudincookoff.com.

Beekeeping in Acadiana

Vermilionville Folklife Park in Lafayette will host a presentation on beekeeping from 6:30 p.m. to 8: 30 p.m. Tuesday.

Horticultural therapist and amateur beekeeper Emily Neustrom and other local beekeepers will discuss the process of establishing a bee colony and harvesting honey.

Observation bee hives will be on display and honey will be available for tasting.

The free presentation will be at the Vermilionville Performance Center, 300 Fisher Road.

Band performance

The Lafayette Concert Band will present its Fall Festival of Sound at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lafayette High School Auditorium.

Admission is $10.

For information, call [phone].

STEM open house

The Lafayette Parish School System is hosting an open house from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday for the David Thibodeaux STEM Magnet Academy.

The event will be at the LITE Center, 537 Cajundome Blvd., and will showcase new technology used by teachers.

The public is invited.

Adult spelling bee

The Lafayette Public Library Foundation is having an adult spelling bee fundraiser Nov. 1 at the Lafayette Science Museum downtown.

The spelling bee will start at 7 p.m., but guests should arrive at 6 p.m. for food and drinks and to browse the museum.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door.

State Sen. Fred Mills will serve as emcee.

For information on sponsoring a team, call [phone].

Personal development

The Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation will present its annual Quest for Your Best personal development symposium from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Petroleum Club in Lafayette’s Oil Center.

Speakers include Lafayette Parish School Superintendent Pat Cooper, state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member Holly Boffy and Lafayette General Medical Center CEO David Callecod.

For information, visit www.upperlafayette.com.

Gumbo cook-off

The REALTOR Association of Acadiana will host its annual gumbo cook-off from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Parc International in downtown Lafayette.

All-you-can-eat gumbo will be available for $10 per person. Children 5 and younger eat free.

Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Music will be provided by Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns.

For information, call [phone].

Submit items to Acadiana bureau chief Richard Burgess at [e-mail] or fax to [phone].