On Saturday, March 19, the Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville will host its annual Acadian Memorial Festival and Wooden Boat Congrès. Curator of the Acadian Memorial Elaine Clément said of the festival, “Last year, people would come up to me to tell me what fun they had, but they hadn’t done the same things! You really can create your own festival, since we have a little of everything.” Not only will traditional Cajun food be available throughout the day, but demonstrations of how gumbo, fried fish, jambalaya, and cracklins are prepared will take place all day. As you sample these classic bites, walk around the various craft displays presented by local artisans while enjoying the music of local band La Récolte.
French-style round dances, which form much of the basis of traditional Cajun dancing, will also be presented; plus there will be a French table for accomplished or budding bilinguals to practice their spoken French. At 1 pm, a re-enactment will take place commemorating the historic arrival of the deported Acadiens into Attakapas Territory. Each year, two of the original families who made the trek are honored, and this year the re-enactment will prominently feature members of this year’s families: the Guilbeaus and the Saulniers (now often Sonnier).
Meanwhile, down on Bayou Teche, local wooden boat enthusiasts will be showing their creations to the public. Visitors can talk to the builders and learn more about the Louisiana heritage craft of wooden boat building. Some may even be able to take a short ride in a boat … “if you’re nice,” advised Clément.
Events will take place from 9 am to 4 pm in and around the Acadian Memorial and in Evangeline Oak Park on Bayou Teche in downtown St. Martinville. For more information, visit acadianmemorial.org. If you would like a few other suggestions for enjoying the area, read Country Roads’ recent article on traveling down Highway 96, from St. Martinville to Catahoula.
