The Contraband

Great Acadian Awakening Music Fest - Call for Volunteers

From Staff Reports

The Contraband

The Great Acadian Awakening Music Fest is seeking volunteers to assist in the 250th year celebration of Cajun heritage in Louisiana. The majority of the festivities will occur on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Lake Charles Civic Center. However, there will be a movie night on Friday, Oct. 2, and a French mass and Cajun dance as well as a Canadian choir concert on Sunday, Oct. 4.

During the event, festival-goers will be able to partake in Cajun music, dance and food. It is a chance for the youth of the area to become more aware of the unique culture in Louisiana and embrace our Acadian roots.

Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m., there will be Against the Tide, a movie night presented by Pat Mire. Saturday, Oct. 3, there will be activities ranging from a lecture and historical displays to kids’ activities, live music, art and food vendors.

The event includes music by the CFMA Youth Band, Lesa Cormier & the Sundown Playboys, Sweet Crude, Rusty Metoyer & Zydeco Krush and GRAMMY Winner Jo-EL Sonnier. Saturday will also be the opening ceremonies of the festivities with visiting dignitaries and performances by Barbe choir and French immersion students.

Sunday, Oct. 4, is a French mass and dance at the Cajun French Music Association building and also a performance by a Canadian choir at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in downtown Lake Charles.

Anyone interested in signing up to volunteer for any of the events mentioned above, go to www.visitlakecharles.org/awakening/volunteer. There, you can also learn more about the times of the events and general schedule. Contact Angie Manning, communications director at the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) at amanning@visitlakecharles.org or 337-436-9588 if you have additional questions.

The Great Acadian Awakening Music Fest is a project of the CVB, the City of Lake Charles, the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical & Historical Library, the Cajun French Music Association and Louisiane Acadie.