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Popular Louisiana Water Park Will Not Open This Summer

Popular Louisiana Water Park Will Not Open This Summer

Yahoo15-05-2025
Countless waterparks in the United States will reopen this summer, but there's one in particular that'll keep its gates closed.
NOLA.com reported Wednesday that Dixie Landin' Theme Park will reopen this May just in time for the summer. The waterpark located on Perkins Road, however, won't be open for business.
Unfortunately for people living in Baton Rouge, they won't have Blue Bayou Water Park at their disposal this year.
The official website for Blue Bayou Water Park teased its future plans with this message: "New Website Coming Soon." That doesn't answer any questions about why the water park is closed for summer 2025.
It's unclear what the future has in store for Blue Bayou Water Park. Those living in the Baton Rouge area are hoping it'll return in 2026 with significant upgrades.
"Update it please," one person wrote on social media.
"My childhood is fading," another person said.
"Tear it down and rebuild it please," a third social media user commented.
For now, it's unclear if Blue Bayou Water Park will remain closed permanently.
On the bright side, people living in Louisiana will get to enjoy Dixie Landin' Theme Park this summer. They'll have a chance to ride the Ragin' Cajun roller coaster and 90-foot Giant Wheel as early as next week.
Dixie Landin' Theme Park will open its doors on May 23 at 10 a.m.
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Essence Fest 2025 Releases Statement Following Lauryn Hill Backlash
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Essence Fest 2025 Releases Statement Following Lauryn Hill Backlash

Essence has stepped in to make it crystal clear that no slander against Ms. Lauryn Hill will be tolerated following her perceived 'late' performance at Essence Fest 2025. In an Instagram post in response to backlash, the festival issued a loving and firm statement backing the star. 'Family is family and around here we protect our own no matter what the PEOPLE have to say. Let's be very clear — WE don't play about Ms. Lauryn Hill,' it reads. 'Not for clicks. Not for headlines. She arrived on schedule, stepped on that stage, and delivered the kind of performance only a legend can. The delay? Not hers. We will take that. The moment? One for the books. The legacy? Still unmatched.' The publication closed the message with this powerful reminder: 'Put some respect on her name. Keep the takes, but keep her out of them. All love and deep profound admiration for Ms. Lauryn Hill. #ESSENCEFest25.' According to attendees, the eight-time Grammy-winning artist didn't hit the stage at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans until 2:30 A.M on Saturday morning (July 5), hours after many festival-goers had already called it a night. By the time she launched into her set, only a few hundred people remained in the 'nearly empty' venue — which holds over 80,000. However, she still gave an unforgettable show. The evening ran off-schedule from the start, according to with act after act finishing nearly an hour late. Hill, for her part, didn't just slip in fashionably late; she was added to an already stacked lineup that included Jill Scott, Davido, Donnell Jones, Moliy, and Buju Banton. So while TikTok might be filled with videos of empty seats, it's also full of clips capturing Hill's soulful performance for the dedicated fans who stuck it out. And for those who did wait, it was well worth it. Hill took time to connect with the intimate crowd, accepted a few song requests, and even brought out her sons — Zion Marley and Joshua 'YG' Marley — for a touching family moment. She wrapped her set around 3:30 A.M., according to The Hollywood Reporter, after performing beloved tracks like 'Zion' and 'Tell Him.' Her son YG Marley even blessed the mic with a live rendition of his viral hit, 'Praise Jah In The Moonlight.' 'It was a PHENOMENAL set! I am happy and thankful that I stayed. Still feeling inspired!!!' one fan commented on the event as another defended Hill against the criticism. 'She was NOT late, the entire show started late & she didn't get to start at her scheduled time because there were two acts before her still going when she should have been on the stage,' they wrote on Instagram. They added, 'That woman does not deserve this negative narrative as if 'she did something wrong' or like her fans don't support her. It was late & people were just tired. Give her a break.' Someone else chimed in, 'I woulda been there up at 4am enjoying her set.' See ESSENCE's official statement regarding Lauryn Hill's performance above. More from Lauryn Hill Performs For Nearly Empty Superdome At Essence Fest Hours After Scheduled Set Raphael Saadiq Would've Rather Had Lauryn Hill In Lucy Pearl? Nicki Minaj Named Best Female Rapper Of All-Time, Barbz And Haters React

Lauryn Hill Performs For Nearly Empty Superdome At Essence Fest Hours After Scheduled Set
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Lauryn Hill Performs For Nearly Empty Superdome At Essence Fest Hours After Scheduled Set

Lauryn Hill is no stranger to running on her own time, but her latest 'late' performance at the 2025 Essence Festival was reportedly not her fault, and under circumstances out of her control. According to attendees, Hill didn't hit the stage at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans until 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning (July 5) — well after most fans had called it a night. By the time she launched into her set, only a few hundred people remained in the 'nearly empty' venue that holds more than 80,000. According to the evening ran off-schedule from the start, with multiple acts finishing almost an hour behind. And to be fair, the eight-time Grammy winner wasn't just fashionably late — she was added to an already jam-packed lineup that included performances by Jill Scott, Davido, Donnell Jones, Moliy, and Buju Banton. For the fans who stayed, Ms. Hill made it count. She spoke to the intimate crowd, took a song request or two, and even brought her sons, Zion Marley and Joshua 'YG' Marley, on stage for a family moment. Her set ended around 3:30 a.m., per The Hollywood Reporter. Videos of the nearly empty stadium have been circulating on TikTok, but so have clips of her giving a heartfelt performance despite the sparse audience. Hill performed beloved hits including, 'Tell Him' and 'Zion,' as her son gave the crowd a live rendition of his viral song, 'Praise Jah In The Moonlight.' Some fans took to social media to defend her, arguing that the scheduling mess wasn't her fault and praising her for still showing up with grace. 'It was a PHENOMENAL set! I am happy and thankful that I stayed. Still feeling inspired!!!' one person commented on Instagram as another said, 'This is honestly messed up that anyone is sharing information like this. She was NOT late, the entire show started late & she didn't get to start at her scheduled time because there were two acts before her still going when she should have been on the stage.' They added, 'I was there & saw the whole thing from Glorilla to Lauryn. That woman does not deserve this negative narrative as if 'she did something wrong' or like her fans don't support her. It was late & people were just tired. Give her a break.' A third person added, 'And this my song too!! I woulda been there up at 4am enjoying her set.' See footage of Lauryn Hill performing above. More from Essence Fest 2025 Releases Statement Following Lauryn Hill Backlash Stephanie Mills Writes Open Letter To Essence Fest Over "Organizational Shortcomings" Master P Responds To Mia X's Refusal To Perform With Him At ESSENCE Fest

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Erykah Badu Teases New Music & Stops Show To Shout Out ASL Interpreter At Essence Fest

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'Right now Imma do one of my favourite songs, [but] it's not going to be 'Tyrone' because y'all were sitting down at the beginning and I'm vindictive so I'm punishing you for sitting down,' she said to laughs. Badu, of course, is referring to her 1997 classic (and my go-to karaoke song) ' Tyrone (Live) '. Badu relented after cheers from the crowd and turned to her band and said, 'If we do do it, let'd do it fast as fuck' before launching into a sped-up rendition of her fan-favorite hit. As someone who has heard the song about a million times and knows every run, every adlib and every 'shhhiiit', it was refreshing to hear a new version of one of my favorite jams. Badu brought her familiar electric yet soft spoken energy on stage and she took those vibes backstage when she hit the press room after her set. Dressed in 'what I wore to the airport,' the artist revealed that she doesn't have a stylist. 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