Bayou Teche Black Bear Festival is April 15 & 16

The 13th annual Bayou Teche Black Bear Festival will be held Friday, April 15, and Saturday, April 16, in beautiful downtown Franklin. Activities will be held along Bayou Teche on Friday from 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm, and Saturday from 10:00 am - 10:00 pm.

There will be arts and crafts, great live music, motorized boat trips along the Bayou Teche Wildlife Refuge, a black bear obstacle course sponsored the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Cajun Horseshoe competition at Veterans Park on Saturday, and a Children's 'Cub Club' activities area.

The purpose of the festival is to educate citizens of St Mary Parish, and surrounding areas about the beloved Louisiana black bear, a species listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as "threatened" under the guidelines of the Endangered Species Act.

There will also be a Running of the Bears 5K Run / Walk on Saturday at 8:00 am, a Fun Zone, and Fireworks on the Bayou Saturday at 8:00 pm. The 5th annual Wooden Boat Festival will also be held in conjunction with the festivities along Bayou Teche, and a free Teddy Bear and Friends Clinic will give some TLC to all your beloved torn or broken stuffed animals. There really is something for the whole family at the Bayou Teche Black Bear Festival!

Entertainment lineup:

Friday, April 15

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - HAL BRUNI

8:30 pm - 11:00 pm - YUM YUMS

Saturday, April 16

Noon - 2:00 pm - 5:00 O'CLOCK SHADOWS

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - RICK LORENZO

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - FLASHBACK

8:30 pm - 11:00 pm - JOHNNY CHAUVIN and the MOJO BAND