On Saturday, a group of friends paddled on floaties and kayaks on the Broad Street side of Bayou St. John in New Orleans, just outside the boundaries of Bayou Boogaloo. It’s a sacred spot for the group, which, during the depths of the pandemic, used to gather like this to play music and float together in the bayou.

“We called it Friendaloo,” said Kelsey Udoff, 30. “There would be 20 or 30 of us floating around.”

The name conjured the Bayou Boogaloo festival, which every year had drawn them to float among its entertainment stages and go ashore only to get drinks and food.

Read more here: Bayou Boogaloo draws mixed reviews in return from pandemic hiatus

Festivalgoers float in Bayou St. John during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

Joshua Starkman and Friends featuring Gabrielle Cavassa and Sabine McCalla perform during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

People float in Bayou St. John near Orleans Avenue to listen to live music during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

Festivalgoers walk through stalls of crafts during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

Big Fun Brass Band performs on the floating Pacifico Bayou Stage during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

People float on Bayou St. John during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

People float on Bayou St. John outside the Bayou Boogaloo festival in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

A festivalgoer gets low to pass under the Orleans Avenue bridge over Bayou St. John, during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

Capoeira New Orleans kids and adults move with the music at the Ruby Slipper Cafe Kids Stage during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday. 

Festivalgoers explore food and drink options during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday. 

A festivalgoer floats in Bayou St. John during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

Floating festivalgoers are checked as they arrive by boat under the Dumaine Street bridge over Bayou St. John during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022.

Erica Laroux and Leigh Kalbacher pump up their kayak before they float into Bayou Boogaloo on Bayou St. John in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday. 

Festivalgoers listen to Joshua Starkman and Friends featuring Gabrielle Cavassa and Sabine McCalla during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

People float in Bayou St. John during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

Ducks take to the water during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

Festivalgoers dance on the banks of Bayou St. John during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

Bayou Boogaloo uses oil booms under the Dumaine Street bridge to funnel festival goers arriving via Bayou St. John in the Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday. 

Capoeira New Orleans kids and adults show what they can do in the Ruby Slipper Cafe Kids Stage during Bayou Boogaloo in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday. 

People float on Bayou St. John outside the Bayou Boogaloo festival in New Orleans on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The festival continues through Sunday.

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