International Acadian Festival

The festival was started by the Knights of Columbus Council 970 in Plaquemine in 1969 to celebrate our Cajun heritage and to honor Evangline from Longfellow’s poem of the same name.
Legend has it that Evangeline camped on the banks of Bayou Plaquemine with her Indian guides on her way to New Iberia in search of her Gabriel.
The water ceremony features Evangeline and her Indian princesses arriving by canoes paddled by Indian “braves” courtesy of Boy Scout Troop 23. After presenting the queen and her court to the public, a large fireworks display will be performed by the Knights of Columbus Council 970.
Following the water ceremony, everyone will travel to the Carl F Grant Civic Center for a formal “mardi gras” style presentation followed by a ball until the wee hours of the morning.
The festival includes tons of entertainment for the whole family. We offer everything from a Texas Hold’Em tournament, a full midway carnival with pay-one-price ride specials, two Bull Bashes, live music, arts & crafts and a full complement of food vendors from south Louisiana.
At 10:00 am on Sunday, October 17^th, our parade rolls from the KC hall on Price St. on it’s 4 mile route through Plaquemine and ends back at the hall. The parade is huge with over 20 large floats as well as marching bands, politicians, etc. You are guaranteed at least 45 minutes of pure mardi-gras style fun with all the participants throwing favors. The parade usually attracts over 40,000 spectators and space is at a premium, so come early for a good spot.
After the parade, the fun continues at the Multi-Purpose Center until 9:00 pm Sunday night.
For more information, please contact Paul Bouy, Jr., Publicity Chairman at 225-205-1428 or [email protected].