Le Grand Réveil Acadian begins, Rayne Events Planned

Acadians from Nova Scotia, France and all over the world will descend on Acadiana October 3-12, where they will attend the Grand Réveil Acadien 2015 (GRA, Great Acadian Awakening), a nine day event designed to boost state-wide pride in our Acadian and francophone culture and heritage, as well as to “pass a good time” with our cousins and cousins.
The Grand Réveil Acadien is an event designed to compliment the Congrès mondial acadien (CMA), which is a summit of the world’s Acadians that happens every five years to discuss the pressing issues of the day. Louisiana’s Acadian community decided to start the GRA to celebrate our Acadian culture in a lively way. The inaugural GRA was held in 2011 as a nine-day festival-style event spread across four cities in Louisiana. This event motivated and inspired the community to live its Acadian heritage. From October 3-12, Grand Réveil Acadien will use its inspiration to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the Acadians.
The Grand Réveil Acadien is a state-wide, two week celebration of language, music, history, culture, and Acadian influence in the heart of Louisiana. Virtually all activities are free and open to the public. The event kicks off in Lake Charles on October 3rd, moves on to Houma and Lafayette, and ends up in New Orleans on October 12th.
The local Rayne event will be held Thursday, Oct. 8, at two Rayne locations with the theme “Life and Times of The Cajun Prairie.”
The first of two Rayne events, Melange Cajun Band,” will take place Thursday between 12 noon and 2 p.m. at the Depot Square. The event will showcase younger Cajun musicians, having them each explore their culture and to continue their Cajun Heritage.
The second Rayne event will take place between 10 a.n. and 3 p.m. at the Maison Daboval House built in 1892.
A number of events will include Cajun music by Milton Stutes, Mason Stutes and Jim Gaspard, in addition to pork and sausage jambalaya cooking with samples. A quilt display from the past and present will also be on display, along with a demonstration on the lost art of tatting.
For more informaion of the Rayne events, contact Martha Royer at 334-3489.
Various activities and programs have also been organized in other communities throughout the Acadiana region. Check out GRA’s website for more details at www.louisiane-acadie.com.
The GRA is presented by Louisiane-Acadie and is funded in part by Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the Acadian Memorial Foundation in St Martinville, the Richard J Guidry Foundation, and Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission.
During Grand Réveil Week, the Iberia Parish Welcome Center will have artisans, musicians, art exhibits, GRA events information and coupons for GRA specials offered by local merchants. Deals and coupons are available for download on IberiaTravel.com. (Merchants should send their promotion with a photo to celine@iberiatravel.com by Sept. 21 to be considered for this free shopping campaign).
The Bayou Teche Museum and the Jeanerette Museum will host special Grand Réveil exhibits showcasing the culture and history of the Acadians.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, Shadows-on-the-Teche will offer tours en français during its Fall Arts and Crafts Fair. The Delcambre Seafood and Farmers Market will host a Cajun Day with Cajun music, food and family fun.
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Jeanerette Museum will hold a Cajun History Talk featuring a screening of “Louisiana Story” with a special presentation by Tika Laudun, senior producer of Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
On Thursday, Oct. 8, Loreauville will join the festivities with a presentation on Acadian History and the New Acadia Project, French students performance and unveiling of plans for a park, museum and Acadian Odyssey Monument. A Tintamarre (traditional Acadian parade) to City Hall on Main Street will follow. There will also be music and gumbo.
Still on Thursday, the Iberia Parish Welcome Center will offer activities, including a photo scavenger hunt, trivia contest, giveaways, artisans and much more for its Iberia Parish Day open house.
Finally, on Saturday, Oct. 10, the Jeanerette Museum, usually closed Saturdays, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. That weekend, the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff will fill Main Street New Iberia with live music and the aroma of Cajun food (Saturday) and gumbo (Sunday).
For more information on Grand Réveil Iberia, visit IberiaTravel.com/GrandReveil. For information on GRA events in other parishes visit the official Grand Réveil website.