August 15 - National Day of the Acadians

Theme:  "Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the Acadian Deportation" 

August 15 – 10 a.m. to evening - National Day of the Acadians / Commemoration & Celebration  of music, traditions, and culture featuring lectures, supper on the Bayou Teche, entertainment, theatre, Acadian names banner procession to St. Martin du Tours French Mass / Acadian Memorial Choir.   Day ending with selections from the new "Grand-Pré Musical" at the Duchamp Opera House.

Highlight of the Day:
Opening of Cajun Primitive Paintings Exhibition by Mary Anne de Boisblanc, descendent of  “Mary Rosalie Prejean: Acadian Mother/18th Century Acadian Survivor” / Free Commemorative Catalog:  Story of Mary Rosalie Prejean, Acadian Woman Deportation Survival Story

Schedule for the day: (subject to additions or changes)

10:00 a.m. - Opening/Special tribute to 2005 Honorary Acadians

10:15 a.m. - Lecture/discussion on Archeological Dig of Acadian Settlement by Dr. Mark Rees, ULL Archeological Department

11:00 a.m. - Interview/discussion with Cajun primitive artist, Mary Anne Pecot de Boisblanc and her cousin, Pecot genealogist, Carolyn Ivy Shimek, by Bethany Bultman, a contributing editor of  Louisiana Cultural Vistas ( LEH),  who researched and brought Mary Rosalie Prejean’s journey from oral history to print.

12:00 Noon - Box Lunches for sale by  “Two Sweet Sisters”

1:00 p.m. - Showing of 1929 film “Evangeline” / Conference Room

2:00 p.m. - Panel Discussion, “ A Salute to Cajun Veterans” with Jason Theriot, Author, Pat Mire, Plus Film Director, and Veterans of World War II /Opera House  

2:00 p.m. - “Genealogy From Scratch” by Lynne Louviere

3:00 p.m. - Showing of 1929 film, “Evangeline” / conference room

3:30 p.m. - Charles Larroque Lecture - “Coeurs Batailleurs”

4:00 p.m. to 5:45 p. m - “Supper/Entertainment on the Bayou Teche” (Dinners for sale by "Two Sweet  Sisters")  Entertainment by Theâtre Cadien – “Vignettes of the Deportation Stories” and musical selections from the play “Our Lady of Assumption” by the May Day Theatre Troup

5:45 p.m. - Acadian Family Name Banner Carriers meet at City Hall process to St. Martin du Tours Catholic Church’s French Acadian mass. 

6:00 p.m. - French Mass / Acadian Memorial Choir St. Martin du Tours Catholic Church

7:15 p.m. - Selections from the new "Grand-Pré Musical" by Cody Daigle & Roy Bertucci, Authors.  Presented at the Duchamp Opera House / Free 

Throughout the Day in Town:
 
Theâtre Cadien –  "Vignettes of the Deportation Stories"
Opera House – Indoor ArtWalk & Craft Show - Free Wine & Cheese
St. Martinville Tourist Information Center –   Lagniappe Token
Petite Paris Museum – Cookies & Punch.