Leola Paul
March 31, 2010
Terrebonne to can trash; Cleanest City Contest gears up
April 2, 2010
Some will call it a rebirth, others an entertainment explosion. You decide when you attend the Bayou Teche Black Bear and Birding Festival April 16-18 in Historic Downtown Franklin.
Co-chairwoman Karla Byron said volunteers are looking to make this year’s event one of the most talked about.
“I know the word is out,” she said. “Last year, we had roughly 63 hits on our Web site before April 1. This year, we’re at 1,063 hits.
“As long as we provide an event that encourages people to get off the highway and come into this community, and as long as we’re hospitable, they will return,” she added.
Among the changes is the festival’s name, which now fetes birds, given the many migratory species that travel through the area this time of year.
“We have a lot of bird enthusiasts in our area,” Byron said. “There’s a St. Mary loop that goes through Franklin and into other parts of the parish people visit yearly for observations.”
And this year’s musical lineup has been amped up, featuring Lil Nat and the Zydeco Big Timers, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Cha, Hunter Hayes and Geno Delafose with French Rockin’ Boogie.
Returning is the opening night fireworks. It kicks off at 8:30 p.m.
A number of arts-and-crafts vendors and area chefs are also making a return visit.
“You’re going to see bigger and better,” said Delores Stewart of the festival. “And there’ll be lots of new things, including a teen zone with an arcade to attract the young folk.”
The arrival of spring marks the ideal time for the outdoor festival, according to co-chairwoman Diane Wiltz.
“This event is going to allow folks to celebrate spring in a good way,” she said. “In a safe, secure area, complete with a picturesque setting along Bayou Teche, as well as Franklin’s Main Street, which features a charming lamplight venue that I believe was just like the one that gave Walt Disney his idea for Main Street USA in Disney World.”
As always, the festival is intended to promote awareness of the black bear and its habitat.
“With ecotourism at its height – while out coastline continues to wash away – these bears are getting confused about where they are supposed to live and roam. Some are showing up at the gold course or peeking out on U.S. Highway 90,” Wiltz explained. “The public needs to know about the black bear so that we can continue to promote an awareness of nature and the animals’ surroundings.”
Vic and Elaine Jeanminette, of Jeanminette’s Creole Kitchen in Jeanerette ready a pan of seafood cornbread at the Bayou Teche Black Bear Festival.
