Event expects to draw 100,000 over festival's two weeks

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

CARAQUET - Scores of artists including musicians, storytellers and actors will take to the stage as part of this year's 46th annual Festival Acadien de Caraquet.

The festival kicks off Thursday, July 31, and will conclude on Friday, Aug. 15, on national Acadian Day.

It's billed as the largest Acadian festival and draws an estimated 100,000 visitors each year.

One of the events planned for July 31 is the opening of the 40th Caraquet song gala at the Carrefour de la mer at 8 p.m.

Highlights Aug. 1 include the launch of the festival of poetry at the Caraquet Cultural Centre at 5 p.m. and the fireworks display at 10 p.m.

More poetry, stage entertainment, theatre and workshops for children are on the program for Aug. 2, along with an evening concert at L'Église St. Pierre-aux-Liens and a "Méchant Party" at the carrefour, one of several planned during the two weeks.

Events on Aug. 3 include the official opening ceremonies of the 46th annual festival at 1:30 p.m. at the carrefour. The traditional blessing of the fishing fleet takes place at the wharf at 4 p.m. when fishing and pleasure boats parade in the harbour and compete for prizes for best decorated vessel.

The evening concludes with a dinner show at the Village Historique Acadien, one of several planned, and an Acadian/Quebec social gathering.

Highlights over the rest of the festival include a concert by the Louisbourg Choir, a Roch Voisine and Isabelle Cyr special show on Aug. 5, cabaret nights featuring different styles of music and an Acadie/Louisianne gathering.

The 2009 Congrès mondial acadien committee is organizing two hours of music and entertainment for Aug. 13.

The program for Aug. 15 begins with breakfast at 9 a.m. and church service at 10 a.m.

At 2 p.m., the group J'm'en Rappelle performs at the Village Historique followed by the staged recreation of part of the 1884 Acadian national convention held in Miscouche, P.E.I.

The tintamarre, where celebrants march along singing and making noise to proclaim their heritage, begins at 6 p.m. on Boulevard Saint-Pierre Ouest.

The festival concludes with more music and entertainment throughout the evening at Place du Vieux Couvent and at the carrefour.