DC Mardi Gras
Bicentennial presented and hosted the Lafayette Suite for the Mardi Gras Celebration in Washington DC in January 2023.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
Cinema on the Bayou
Lafayette-related films were shown on opening (The Ragin' 13) and closing (Roots of Fire) nights of the Cinema on the Bayou film Festival to honor the bicentennial. Bicentennial will also be presented the Louisiana Night at the Film Festival on Tuesday, January 31 to celebrate Lafayette's filmmaking culture.
Courir de Mardi Gras
Bicentennial participated in the Basile Mardi Gras Association's Courir de Mardi Gras held at Vermilionville. At this family-friendly, traditional Mardi Gras run, disguised revelers, led by Le Capitaine and singing La Chanson de Mardi Gras made their way through the historic village begging for the ingredients to make a gumbo. The event also included a film screening, live music, dancing, and more.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |
Blue Monday: Special Black History Month Edition
Since 2017 Love of People has hosted a monthly jam session that features their Blue Monday Allstar House Band and special guest musicians and vocalists.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |
Mardi Gras Kick-off Parade
The Friday night Mardi Gras kick-off parade featured Lafayette's Bicentennial. The parade was led by the Bicentennial float honoring the cultures and historic figures that make Lafayette unique.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
Downtown Alive!
Bicentennial sponsored Downtown Alive March 23, 2023, with Wayne Toups + Joe Hall & The Cane Cutters at Parc International in downtown Lafayette.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |
SXSW
Bicentennial presented the 14th “Lafayette Live” showcase and on the 18th "The Official Lafayette SXSW Showcase" to promote and celebrate our music and culture with the thousands that come from all over the world for this event.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
Celtic Bayou Festival
The Parish Bicentennial will presented Irish musicians playing a set of Cajun and Creole traditional music, and local musicians played Irish traditional music at this Festival that celebrates the Celtic roots in Louisiana.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |
Holi Festival
Lafayette Holi Festival, started in 2011, brings Holi to Acadiana, the heart of the Cajun country. Holi is a colorful Indian festival that celebrates the coming of Spring.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |
PACE Student Art Expo
A reception was held with area Mayors from Lafayette parish and members of the Lafayette school board celebrating the 2,000 students participating in the Student Arts Expo. The Expo began with a kickoff parade led by student musicians and dancers.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |
Festival International
Bicentennial helped present Festival International 2023. Bicentennial celebrations included: Lauren Daigle Thursday April 27th. A talk about the ‘The Roots of Zydeco’ hosted by Herman Fuselier and on accordion Jeffery Broussard at the Acadiana Center for the Arts on Saturday, April 29, followed by A Celebration of Zydeco with Rockin’ Dopsie and Special Guests, MC’ed by Herman Fuselier.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |
Ensemble, On est Lafayette
We celebrated the Lafayette Parish Bicentennial with an evening of stories and histories from members of different communities from our parish that helped shape the culture and parish we love.
Members of the Acadian & French, Atakapa-Ishak, African American, Coco Tribe of Canneci Tinne, Creole, Jewish, Lebanese and Spanish communities shared personal stories and discussed our shared history from different perspectives so that we all better understand who we are, how we got to where we are and know our history.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
City Council Members & Mayors Reunion
As part of our Bicentennial celebrations, we honored our past City/Parish Council members and Mayors with a reception at City Hall. After a group photo and reception, the past members were recognized by a joint session of the City & Parish Councils
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |
Cur Non: Group exhibition of Louisiana artists
In celebration of the Lafayette Parish Bicentennial, Acadiana Center for the Arts presents a group exhibition of Louisiana artists juried by French-Algerian artist & curator Camille Farrah Lenain.
Emblazoned on the Marquis’ coat-of-arms, Cur Non is a Latin phrase meaning “Pourquois Pas” or “Why Not?” The Marquis considered this a personal motto and way of life.
 |  |  |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |