Acadians’ arrival celebrated in St. Martinville

St. Martinville — The sultry Bayou Teche and the storied Evangeline Oak set the scene March 15 for the fourth annual Acadian Memorial Festival, a celebration of the peopling of southern Louisiana by the deported Acadians.

There was music and food as with any Acadiana event, but also folks dress in the kind of garb the early Acadians wore, and even some functional reproductions of the wooden watercraft that enabled the new arrivals to make their livings and their homes in the swamps of Louisiana.

Over at the newly refurbished Teche Theater on Main, the 1929 Film “Evangeline” had its first showing in town since 1960.

Upstairs at the Memorial, historian Dr. Ray Brassieur gave a lecture on traditional Acadian boats.

The festival also featured displayed in store windows throughout downtown artwork from students from Trinity Catholic and St. Martinville Junior High.

For many, the highlight, featuring the costumed folks and the replica boats, was the reenactment of the arrival of the Acadians — this year paying special tribute to the Bourque and Landry families.