ST. MARTINVILLE – This Saturday, Aug. 15, St. Martinville, Canada, and France celebrate la Fête Nationale de l’Acadie or National Day of Acadians. The city of St. Martinville, Historic District, and the Acadian Memorial Museums, along with the Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site, invite tourists and friends to enjoy the ongoing activities happening around town.

    Events of the day:

    •1 p.m. Acadian Memorial where you can hear and view the audio interactive of the mural, “The Arrival of the Acadians in Louisiana.”

    •1 p.m. – Flag ceremony - lead by Sarah Roy, Acadian Memorial choir director

    •2 p.m. – A Patchwork of Memories story telling by Yvonne Thibodeaux Bogan. She will share her short stories about growing up in the 1950s rural French farming community of Richard.

    •3:30 p.m. – Thèatre Acadien will feature Vignettes on the Deportation Story

    •5:30 p.m. – Meet at the A.M. Hall to line up for procession, leave for church at 5:50 p.m. Tintamarre (racket) is an Acadian tradition showing Acadian pride by making as much noise as possible. *Bring your own noise makers.

    •6 p.m. – French Mass at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, mother church of the Acadians, with the Acadian Memorial French Choir.