08/09/2026
Venez fêter le 15 août! St. Martinville celebrates Acadian Day this Saturday August 15!
All are invited to St. Martinville on August 15 for a free and family-friendly celebration of La Fête Nationale de l’Acadie or National Acadian Day.
There will be a tintamarre (noisy foot parade), music, dancing and games. The Acadian Memorial and Museum, African American Museum and Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site will be open with free admission to sites and activities.
In 1881, Acadian delegates in Canada chose the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on August 15 as their national holiday. Today Acadian descendants around the world, including many Louisiana Cajuns and Creoles, reflect and celebrate on this day
A round dance workshop from 2:00 to 3:00 pm welcomes beginners and experienced dancers for traditional Acadian fun! These easy dances for all ages feature songs and movements that are centuries old but still enjoyable today. The workshop will be held at Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site.
That evening, all are welcome to join in the tintamarre, a noisy procession of Acadian pride. Family-friendly costumes of blue, white, red and yellow and noisemakers are encouraged. Participants get loud with traditional items like pots and pans or use their creativity to make noise with items they gather or make for the occasion.
The tintamarre starts on Dalton Hebert Lane (between the 300 and 400 blocks of North Main Street) after Fête Dieu du Teche ends around 6:00 pm The foot parade follows a five-block route down Main Street, turning onto Evangeline Boulevard to arrive at the Acadian Memorial.
Before the tintamarre, the Fête Dieu du Teche boat procession will carry the Blessed Sacrament down Bayou Teche to St. Martinville. Those who wish to join in prayer may meet the boats arriving near the Evangeline Oak around 4:30 and walk quietly to Notre Dame, St. Martin de Tours and the Mater Dolorosa churches for rosaries and benedictions.
Those who are not walking to the churches may come directly to the Acadian Memorial where the National Acadian Day celebration begins at 4:00 pm.
When the noisy tintamarre arrives around 6:30 pm, the party continues with live acoustic Cajun/Creole music by Chad Huval and the Babineaux Sisters, dancing and games.
There will be an Acadian Trivia Contest inside the Memorial at 7:30 pm. To pre-register for the contest with a team maximum of 6 people, email [email protected].
For August 15, the Acadian Memorial and Museum and African American Museum will be open from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm with free admission. The museums are located at 121 and 125 South New Market St., St. Martinville.
Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and is located at 1200 North Main St. in St. Martinville.
These St. Martinville sites feature the history and culture of Acadians, Creoles and African Americans along Bayou Teche.
Enjoy a picnic in one of St. Martinville’s parks or have lunch or dinner in town at one of the city’s great restaurants. Make it a night at a great local bed and breakfast for the full St. Martinville experience!
For more information or assistance, call the St. Martinville Culture, Recreation and Tourism Office at 337-394-2233 or Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site at 337-394-3754
