The annual National Day of the Acadians is a wonderful celebration, to be held in St Martinville on August 15th from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm. This fun family event at the Acadian Memorial will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the Acadians, and will include a full day of activities to celebrate their presence here in Acadiana!.

As part of the festivities, a flotilla of boats going down Bayou Teche in a Eucharistic procession will begin in Leonville with a Mass at 8am and end with a procession to St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church at 4:45pm. (Check the boat schedule below)There will also be a family banner procession, museum activities, refreshments, and free admission to the Acadian Memorial. Check out the schedule of events below, and call 337-394-2258 for information or to volunteer.

 

Schedule for the National Day of Acadians at the Acadian Memorial

 

9 :00am      Levée de drapeau / flag raising (City Hall)

9:30am       Opening reception of exhibit, 250 years of Acadian presence:

The Journey (Acadian Memorial)

10am          Table française avec Mavis Frugé (conference room)

11am          Vignettes en français (Acadian Memorial) – Skits in French

11:15am     King Crawfish (video) (Cultural Heritage Center)

Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site – traditional games

Noon           Lunch around the square

1pm            Projet Nouvelle Acadie – New Acadia Project (Acadian Memorial)

Dr. Mark Rees and staff – Update on Research

2:00pm       Danielle Fontenette – links between Acadians and Afro-Creole cultures

(Cultural Heritage Center)

3pm            Chapelet en français with James Theriot (AM)

3:30pm       Cajun music with Brazos Huval School of Music

Cajun dance lessons with Brandon Broussard

Jambalaya for purchase  (outside the Acadian Memorial)

4 :45pm      Gather for Parade of banners

5:00pm       Parade of banners and music around church square

 

IAlso, in honor of the 250th Anniversary of St. Martin de Tours and the arrival of the Acadians, a Eucharistic procession along Bayou Teche will take place from Leonville to St. Martinville.

  • Begins with Holy Mass by Bishop Glen John Provost, D.D., Bishop of Lake Charles, at St. Leo’s in Leonville at 8:00 am
  • Procession to Landing 9:00 am, Boat Procession departs at 9:30 am
  • Stops at Each Church on the Bayou: Arnaudville, Cecilia, Breaux Bridge, Parks fo Rosary and Benediction
  • End up in the evening at Evangeline Oak in St. Martinville

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