March 17, 2012

Pack your bags and head on over to Evangeline Oak Park on March 17th for the 8th Annual Acadian Memorial Heritage Festival and Wooden Boat Congrès. The Festival will feature antique wooden pirogues, Putt Putts and other remembrances of “Old Times” in the waters of South Louisiana. This year, the event will honor someone who has shown outstanding achievement in preserving or restoring traditional South Louisiana vessels, especially those indigenous to the Atchafalaya swamp region. Two winners will be recognized during the Festival at a special ceremony and interviewed to record their story of preservation and/or restoration.

The 2012 Festival will honor the Bernard and Martin families, who will be the highlight of the reenactment of the Arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana. Special guests include Queen Evangeline--Queen of the International Acadian Festival in Plaquemine, Louisiana-- and La Compagnie Franche de la Marine, a French military group who will participate in the reenactment and demonstrate their 18th century firearms.

There will be great Cajun music featuring Mark de Basile, Randy Vidrine, and Al Berard in addition to Lisa Trahan et L’Esprit Cajun. As usual, there will be lots of great food to eat and wonderful entertainment to include a display of antique wooden boats and cars. Renaissance Cadienne, Cajun Folkloric Group will be performing at the opening ceremony and Théâtre Acadien will perform vignettes en français at the Memorial. Children's activities include paques (egg knocking), traditional Mardi Gras mask making, puppet theater, costumed spectacles, and more! 

Of course, the festival is free and open to the public. The Acadian Memorial encourages everyone to wear costumes. It’s a wonderful family event. So come on out and enjoy the day at Evangeline Oak Park in downtown historic St. Martinville!

Program Schedule:

10:00am: Opening ceremony, Renaissance Cadienne

10:00am-4:00pm: Antique Car Show on Evangeline Boulevard and Wooden Putt-Putt Boat Congrès with free rides on the Bayou Teche

10:30am-12:30pm: Cajun music with Mark de Basile, Randy Vidrine, and Al Berard

11:00am: Putt-Putts, Wooden Boat parade on the Bayou Teche & Honoring of Madame et Monsieur Bateau de Bois

1:00pm: Reenactment of the Arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana on the Bayou Teche

1:00- 3:30pm: Cajun music with Lisa Trahan et L’Esprit Cajun

2:00pm: Cheri Armentor, Children’s Mardi Gras demonstration

3:00pm: Paques/Egg Knocking Contest 

3:30pm-until: Acoustic Cajun Jam Session

3:45pm: Closing ceremony

For more information call 337-394-2258 or email us at info@acadianmemorial.org