St. Martinville – The Acadian Memorial Festival, a museum-style celebration of the Acadian Settlers in Louisiana, will be held on Saturday, March 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Festival kickoff is Friday, March 19, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

All events are free and open to the public. 



The Acadian Memorial Foundation Board and the City of St. Martinville want to share the highlights to entice your presence. 

The history and stories step right out of the museum and Memorial to showcase the Acadian Cajun culture and traditions, loaded with visuals and fun for all ages. 

Festival kickoff will be a downtown promenade around historic Church Square.

Join participants for an Art Walk through downtown businesses, a crawfish boil, a tour of St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church and an introduction of the 2010 festival’s honored families, Breaux and Guidry. 



Advance tickets for the crawfish are on sale by the L’Ordre du Bon Temps.  

Brief family meetings can be arranged. Please contact the Memorial for accommodations.

  Festival day is old- fashioned Cajun fun set in Evangeline Oak Park.

Acadian costumes are encouraged.

The festivities will feature family reunions, music, cuisine, history, lectures, theatre, film, demonstrations, storytelling kids’ activities, wooden boats, parade/exhibit, antique cars, and much more.

 Voices of the Atchafalaya, a traveling exhibit of photography and sound, will be on display.

Special guests will include authors Gerard-Marc Braud and Maryannick Braud of Nantes, France, and artist Georgette Bourgeois of Nova Scotia, Canada. 



Cracklins, boudin, jambalaya, fried fish, cush cush, Cajun sweets, etc., will be cooked on site. Beverages will be available.

Anyone interested in selling their Cajun products may rent a booth. 

The Reenactment of the Arrival of the Acadians on Bayou Teche takes place at 1 p.m. on festival day.

Bring your children, grandchildren and elderly family members for this opportunity to reconnect with all Cajun families!

“We are looking for two to four members from the Breaux and Guidry families to ride in pirogues or barges,” says Brenda Comeaux Trahan, Acadian Memorial curator. “Acadian Dress circa 1764 is required. Please contact us to make arrangements.”

All Cajun family associations should join in a huge welcome of the Acadians arrival in St. Martinville.

(For more information or to volunteer, contact us at 337-394.2258 337-288-2681 or info@acadianmemorial.org, or www.stmartinville.org.)