Acadian Memorial Museum

Michelle Verret Johnson
Curator/Director of the Acadian Memorial
121 S. New Market St.
P.O. Box 379
St. Martinville, LA 70582
(337)394-2258
(337)394-2260 fax

Click here to become a member of the Acadian Memorial Foundation

“The Arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana” by Robert Dafford, measures 12 x 30 feet. Its figures represent actual documented Acadian refugees who arrived in Louisiana from about 1764 to 1788 and who settled in different parts of the state. Some models are direct descendants of the figures they portray. This mural is twinned with one in Nantes, France, also painted by Robert Dafford, which depicts the departure of Louisiana-bound Acadians from the port of Nantes in 1785.

 

 

Click here to become a member of the Acadian Memorial Foundation

ACADIAN MEMORIAL FESTIVAL

Below is information about the Acadian Memorial Festival in St. Martinville, LA, as well as links for area information. Also, in the fall of 2011 there is another event planned, so please see the information at the end.  Additional details will be provided as it becomes available.

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2010:  Friday night, March 19th, the festival will kick off with a Promenade on downtown historic St. Martinville by hosting an art walk and free tour of the St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, the oldest church in South Louisiana.  The announcement of our two families, Breaux and Guidry will be made at that time and introduced to the public. The L’ Ordre du Bon Temp organization will be selling boiled crawfish from 5:30PM until 8:00PM.

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010:  The Acadian Memorial Festival is a celebration of the Acadians who settled in Louisiana.  The “Evangeline Oak Park” is the setting for the old fashion Cajun fun, culture, and traditions with music, cuisine, history, lectures, theatre, films, demonstrations, storytelling, wooden boat parade/exhibit, antique cars, and much more.   This day is an opportunity for Acadian families to join together for reunions and connections.  Featured are educational and traditional opportunities for our younger generation.  Bring your children, grandchildren and elderly family members to reconnect with all Cajun families.  Acadian costumes are encouraged.

The highlight of the day is the Reenactment of the Arrival of the Acadians to St. Martinville.  It will take place on the Bayou Teche at 1 p.m. All Cajun family associations should join in a huge welcome of the Acadians arrival in St. Martinville.  The two families honored, who will participate in the reenactment, will be the Breaux and Guidry families.  Selected family members will arrive in pirogues or barges for the reenactment. Family members are encouraged to dress as their Acadian ancestors did during their arrival beginning in 1764.  Let us make this the biggest day ever!

The festival is free but Cajun food and drinks are sold to pay expenses.  Cooked on site will be:  cracklin, boudin, jambalaya, fried fish, cush cush, Cajuns sweets, etc.  Also sold will be drinks: water, coke, beer, wine, etc.  Also, anyone interested in selling their Cajun products can rent a booth.

For more information or to volunteer, call or e-mail [email protected] / 337-394.2258 or 337-288-2681.
www.acadianmemorial.org

For Breaux family members, the town Breaux Bridge is only 20 minutes away from St. Martinville.  You might enjoy stopping before or after the Acadian Memorial Festival.  http://www.breauxbridgelive.com/

FUTURE EVENT:

OCTOBER, 2011:  During October of 2011 the organization LOUISIANE-ACADIE plans to have a LOUISIANA ACADIAN CELEBRATION that will involve all Acadian Family organizations.  Some of the major activities will be held in Houma, Lafayette, and Lake Charles. Family reunions will be encouraged at their choice of location.  This will be held the week preceding the FESTIVAL ACADIAN & CREOLE so that everything concludes with the FESTIVAL ACADIAN & CREOLE http://www.festivalsacadiens.com/ held in Lafayette.

Gayle Breaux Smith
Baton Rouge, LA
[email protected]
February 5, 2010

2009 Acadian Memorial Festival

I will again be attending (and participating) in the Acadian Memorial Festival in St. Martinville, Louisiana this year. The Festival is held on March 21st and a parade is scheduled for the previous day. I will be ‘lecturing’ at 12 noon and again at 2:30 PM on Acadian-Cajun genealogy, most likely at City Hall (directly across the street from the Acadian Memorial Museum). I hope to meet-up with many of my Internet friends there, again this year.

Contact: Michelle Verret Johnson (337) 394-2258, or Fax (337)394-2260
www.acadianmemorial.org
[email protected]

Press Release: Jan. 30 to Feb.14th & 15th, 2008

March 14th, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. ~ Kick off of the Acadian Memorial Festival with a Promenade on downtown historic St. Martinville ~ Showcase of downtown businesses, Music, Food, Art, St. Martin du Tours Church Tours, and the Acadian Memorial L’ordre Du Bon Temps Memberships Gathering. Event sponsored by the city of St. Memorial Tourism, Acadian Memorial, Cultural Heritage Center, Chamber of Commerce and the Maison du Tours.

March 15th ~ 10 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. – Acadian Memorial Festival: “A Tribute to Acadian Women” / Museum-style showcase of Acadian / Cajun traditions through: Theatre, Culture, Music, Dance, Demonstrations and sampling of traditional Cajun Foods, Genealogy, Lectures and Wooden Boat Exhibit on the Bayou Teche, Reenactment of the arrival of the Acadians on the Teche honoring the Acadian/Cajun family names Landry and Bourque. Workshops and lectures for adults and children. Volunteers are needed. For more information call: Brenda Comeaux Trahan 337.394.2258

4th Annual Acadian Memorial Festival
Friday, March 14th , 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. ~ Kick off the Acadian
Memorial Festival with a Promenade on downtown historic St.
Martinville ~ Showcase of downtown businesses, Music, Food,
Art, St. Martin du Tours Church Tour, and the Acadian
Memorial Membership & L’Ordre Du Bon Temps Membership
gathering. Event sponsored by the city of St. Martinville Tourism,
Acadian Memorial Foundation, Cultural Heritage Center,
Chamber of Commerce and the Maison du Tours.
March 14th, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Boiled crawfish $15.00 per person,
Maison du Tours, sponsored by the Acadian Memorial Foundation. Contact Shirley T. LeBlanc for tickets
[email protected]/337-981-3289.

“Calling All Cajuns”

Click here for complete details

Click here to visit the Acadian Memorial Boutique

Click here to visit the Acadian Memorial Boutique