Clare Acadian Festival well underway

The 53rd Festival acadien de Clare, the oldest Acadian festival, has just completed yet another week of festivities.

To start off the weekend, a new event was hosted Friday night at the Clare Lions club. The people of “Su Ambroise” invited all in for an evening of food and music. It was attended by around 150 people who took in an evening with a Cajun theme, topped with a gumbo and Cajun music by the Pine Leaf Boys. The Cajun theme continued with the “Fais dodo en Acadie” concert, where 1100 spectators gathered at the Club social de Clare to watch La Baie en Joie, Cadiens, a group of musicians from Université Sainte Anne, Crocodile, Chris Miller and the Bayou Roots as well as the Pine Leaf Boys.

On Saturday, the annual deep sea fishing tournament highlighted the morning’s activities.. The winner for the best decorated boat was: AF Theriault, the most fish: Villa Acadienne, the biggest fish: The Double D. Afterwards, everyone gathered at the Seashore Restaurant and Blue Rock Lounge for the awards presentation where Chevy 57 provided musical entertainment for the afternoon.

On Sunday, Aug. 2 the parish picnic was held in Saulnierville where roughly 2000 people gathered. Here there were 30 kiosks which brought in a combined $18,000. There were also two presentations on “A class of Acadian studies” at La Salle Marc-Lescarbot Theatre, one in the afternoon as well as one in the evening with over 400 spectators in all.

Another new activity over the weekend was l’Ordre du Bon Temps Supper which was held on Sunday night. Chef Sean Doucet, along with the help of Cajun cook Ray Trahan as well as Samuel de Champlain presided over a four-course meal where the Louisiana delegation was awarded the Order of Good Cheer certificates and Remi Saulnier, the festival’s honorary president, made a toast. Everyone raised their glasses as he said, “Donc pour toute cette histoire acadienne, je propose un toast à nos acadien et acadienne du passe du présent et du future, to our Acadians of the past, present and future, raise your glasses, lever vos vers, for a toast to us the Acadians, les acadiens.” Over 200 guests were in attendance at the Legion for this seafood supper.

For more information on the festival or any upcoming activities, contact the festival office at 902- 769-0832.