Welcome to the
Acadian Memorial
In honor of the 3,000 Acadian men, women and children who found refuge in Louisiana after British forces exiled them from Acadie.
Featured Events
Acadian Memorial Heritage Festival
&
Wooden Boat Congrès
Saturday, March 21, 2026
S. New Market Street
St. Martinville, LA
Friday, March 20th, 2026
Reception at the Acadian Memorial
Honoring Poirier, Granger, LeJeune/Young Families
6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Saturday, March 21st ,2026
9:00 A.M. – Opening of Festival Grounds
Putt Putt Boat arrival until 9:45 A.M.
10:00 A.M. – Flag Raising and Opening Ceremonies of Festival with
Mayor Jason Willis
10:00 A.M. – Food, Drink & Craft Booths open for service
Jambalaya, Boudin, Cracklins and Fried Catfish
10:00 A.M. – 10:30 A.M. – Théâtre Cadien presents Historical Vignettes en Français
(Acadian Memorial Building)
10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. – Veille Maniere Band
(Pausing briefly during Re-enactment)
11:00 A.M. – Warren Perrin presentation “Revisiting the Acadians Role in Starting, Fighting, and Winning the American Revolution”
(City Hall Council Chambers)
11:30 – A.M. – Mary Perrin presentation “The Healing Traditions of South Louisiana”
(City Hall Council Chambers)
11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. – French Table hosted by Jolene Adams
(Acadian Museum Building)
12:30 P.M. – Re-enactment of the Arrival of Acadians in Louisiana
Honoring the Poirier, Granger, LeJeune/Young Families
Boats leave at 12:00 P.M.
(Bayou & Gazebo Area)
3:00 P.M. – Festival Grounds Close
Open All Day
Lafayette Genealogy Society Family History Help Booth
Sweets Booth
Wooden Boat Display
(Bayou Area)
Visit the Museum
The Mural
“The Arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana” by Robert Dafford, measures 12 x 30 feet and is part of an interactive online feature you don’t want to miss.
The Wall of Names
Our Wall of Names lists approximately 3000 Acadian refugees from early Louisiana records. Names are engraved on twelve bronze plaques and framed in granite.
The Eternal Flame
Our Eternal Flame symbolizes the ability of a culture to rekindle itself despite great hardship. The flame rises from the center of a polished granite oval in the Acadian Memorial garden.
The Deportation Cross
Our replica of the Grand-Pré Deportation Cross marks the site of embarkation of over 2,000 Acadian farmers and tradesmen and their families in 1755.
Contribute
to Our Foundation
The Acadian Memorial is made possible, in
part, by the contributions of patrons like you.