Great Acadian Awakening Schedule

         Celebrate Culture! See below for a complete schedule.  
                          Or, for more info, click here.                         

                          Great Acadian Awakening Schedule
                Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Drive
                              Tuesday, October 11, 2011
                    Overview: www.visitlakecharles.org/GRA 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Genealogy Display / Cajun Family Displays
Buccaneer Room, (3^rd Floor)
Genealogy Library display is open in the Buccaneer Room. Learn about the first families with Cajun ancestry in Southwest Louisiana. In addition, families with Cajun ancestry will have tables with tributes to their familial roots.

The Southwest Louisiana Genealogical & Historical Library will remain open after regular library hours from 5-8 p.m. for those interested in researching further into their family histories. 411 Pujo Street Lake Charles, LA 70601

11 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Opening Ceremonies & Activities
Exhibition Hall (1^st Floor)
11 a.m. Canadian Tours arrive
11 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Acadian Cowboys Band
11:20 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Exhibition Hall
Welcome by dignitaries, posting of flags and the Acadian anthem.
 
(Noon - 1:30 p.m., Rosa Hart Theatre)
11:45 a.m. School buses arrive 
Noon p.m. - 1:30 p.m. performances by Papillion and Terrance Simien:

Noon - 12:30 p.m. Papillion Cajun Storyteller (Rosa Hart Theatre)
A Louisiana musician and storyteller whose multi-cultural performances are a delightful gumbo of Cajun, Zydeco & New Orleans Songs and Stories created for Young Children (and the young at heart)...Papillion serves up a Toe-Tappin', Two-Steppin' Good Time for everyone.

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Terrance Simien's Creole for Kids (Rosa Hart Theatre)
A multicultural arts-in-education "informance" (informational performance) that has reached over 250,000 K-12 students, parents and educators at schools, art centers and festivals around the globe in places far away from Louisiana.

1:15 - 2:15 p.m., Learn to Speak French
Buccaneer Room, (3^rd Floor)
Learn to speak Cajun French!

1:15 - 2:15 p.m. Cultural Coffee Corner
Buccaneer Room, (3^rd Floor)
You're invited to speak French, Cajun French or whatever kind of French you like during the Cultural Coffee Corner. Tour groups from Canada and local French speakers have a chance to have a cultural exchange and glean insights about cultural similarities, differences and the strong historical connection that Acadians and Louisianans have.

2:15 - 4 p.m. Keynote Speaker - Stephen White
Buccaneer Room, (3^rd Floor)
A graduate of Harvard College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Stephen White was practicing law in Boston, Massachusetts when offered the position as Genealogist at Moncton University's Centre d'Études Acadiennes, (Center for Acadian Studies). White will give interesting talks on the unique story of the Acadians and the connection between Canadian French people and Louisianans with Cajun history.
   
4 - 10 p.m. Great Acadian Awakening Vendor Booths
Exhibition Hall, (1^st Floor)
Booths with a variety of items for sale will be in the Exhibition Hall including local art, jewelry, books, Cajun food, and there will also be a Boudin War with members from the Boudin Trail competing for 1^st place bragging rights. The public is invited to vote for their favorite taste of boudin! A cash bar will be open, and restaurants from the area will be selling delectable Cajun creations.

4 - 5:30 p.m. Lesa Cormier & the Sundown Playboys
Exhibition Hall, (1^st Floor)
Dancers from the Cajun French Music Association will perform along with Lesa Cormier's Cajun band. You're invited to join them on the dance floor!

5 - 6 p.m. French Wine Experience
Contraband Room, (2^nd Floor)
Join a festive French wine tasting with Thomas Jefferson! This event will be in French and translated into English to accommodate both native speakers. President Washington appointed Jefferson as the first U.S. Ambassador to France. His two extended "business trips" to France just happened to take him on a grand tour of the vineyards. After he returned and was elected president, he put his wine expertise to good use as he introduced a generation of Americans to the finest wines of his time. Tickets are limited. Get your tickets here!

5 - 7 p.m.  Boudin Trail - Boudin Wars!
Taste and cast your boudin ballots for your favorite boudin selection from stops along the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail. Members of the trail will be on hand with boudin samples. You can taste and cast your vote!

5:30 p.m. Brief Overview of the Boudin Wars & Introduction of French Immersion Kids
Representative speaks and explains "Battle of the Boudin" details and encourages people to vote. Introduction of French immersion students.

5:30 p.m. French Immersion Kids Perform

6-7:30 p.m. Chris Miller & Bayou Roots
These exciting and energetic musicians seek to honor the roots of their music's tradition by extending the reach of new and creative musical branches. Led by Chris Miller on vocals, accordion, fiddle, keys, and harmonica, this group provides a musical adventure that can take some very exciting and surprising turns!

7:30 p.m. Announce the Boudin Wars Awards
The moment we've all been waiting for! The Boudin War winners will be announced and proper bragging rights will be given to the boudin master of the people's choice!

8-10 p.m. GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ARTIST
Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience
For more than 2 decades Grammy award winning artist Terrance Simien, 8th generation Louisiana Creole has been shattering the myths about what his indigenous Creole Zydeco music is and is not. Leading his Zydeco Experience Band, Simien has become one of the most respected and internationally recognized touring and recording artists in roots music today. He has performed over 5000 concerts, toured millions of miles to over 40 countries and reached at least a million people during his eventful 25 year career.

(Off site) Further Research on Historical Roots  
The Southwest Louisiana Genealogical & Historical Library will remain open after regular library hours from 5-8 p.m. for those interested in researching further into their family histories. 411 Pujo Street Lake Charles, LA 70601