Celebrating in Style

Celebrating in Style

Acadian Festival announces events and theme

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

The 109^th Evangeline Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival announced its theme, In Acadie, We Celebrate in Style, at a press conference at the Evangeline Expo centre Tuesday night.

President of this year’s festivities, Jeannette Blaquiere, was on hand to make the announcement, as well as a few others for the festival held September 1-4. Josée Arsenault and Patrick Arsenault were announced to be portraying the town’s infamous lovers, Evangeline and Gabriel, who are separated by the Acadian Expulsion.

New competitions in this years Festival include A Minute To Win It, based on the popular TV game show where contestants compete in competitions with only a minute to complete it, Mr. and Mrs. Festival, given to a couple who completes challenges given to them, and the Evangeline Cup Horse Race.

This year also sees a new act from Quebec 1001 Tours de M. Drôle, a duo of performers who mix juggling, comedy and magic. As well, the Arsenault family from New Brunswick will perform and so will local musical acts, Input, Danny and the Boys and Réveil.

This year’s Festin acadien avec homard, part of the Island wide food festival Fall Flavors will have celebrity chef Corbin Tomaszeski, from the food network T.V. show Restaurant Makeover, in attendance.

The festival’s opening ceremonies will take place in the new Evangeline Recreational Centre.

Blaquiere said she hopes the new activities in the added to the Festival will attract new people.

“We’re trying to make it a better festival each year, so I hope this will help.”

She said the theme came from how Acadians celebrate.

“It means the Acadians, when we celebrate something we usually do a big thing about it. It’s a lot of celebration, music, dancing, food, activities. A lot of things to enjoy,” she said. “(Attendees) can expect to have a lot of fun I hope. We have a lot to offer them.”

Blaquiere said they were happy with the festival’s pick for Evangeline and Gabriel.

“We always like to have young people do Evangeline and Gabriel because in the legend the characters are young people,” she said. “We’re happy this year a young couple accepted.”