Vandy pole vaulter sets sights on national record
April 3, 2008
Dorothy Champagne Voisin
April 7, 2008
Before anyone else arrived, St. Mary Parish’s first residents were members of the Louisiana Black Bear family. Today, with the bear population threatened, the citizens of St. Mary set aside one weekend in April to create an awareness of the animal’s importance and, of course, to party.
The 5th annual Bayou Teche Bear Festival is set for April 18-19 in downtown Franklin. Named the “Best New Event” in 2006 by the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals, the event features all the activities associated with a typical Louisiana festival – music, food and fun – as well as field trips, educational exhibits and children’s activities relating to bears and other natural resources common to the area.
In addition to boat tours into the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge, the weekend’s fun includes oyster eating contests, fireworks, art and photography shows, a car show, the annual Running of the Bears 5k Run/Walk, the Tour de Bear bike tour, arts and crafts and festival souvenirs.
A special children’s area, the Cleco Cub Club Arena, offers storytelling puppet and magic shows, music, games and plenty more for the younger set. There’s also a teddy bear repair clinic where Dr. Donna Tesi, one of the parish’s finest bear surgeons, will operate on stuffed animals. And the Cub Parade of Stars – a string of bicycles, wagons, strollers and other non-motorized vehicles decorated for the occasion – is always a favorite sight.
Teens will enjoy the rock climbing wall, sumo wrestling, extreme boxing and Velcro wall.
Event organizers also brag that this year’s lineup is certain to please. Knight Train, Johnny Chauvin & Zydeco Mojo, Rockin’ Doopsie & the Zydeco Twisters, Johnny Firmin & Company, Hunter Hayes, The Wayne Hebert Band and Blaine Roy & Second Wind will perform.
