The focus of Creole Culture Day, set for Sunday at Vermilionville, is on the living culture of the Creoles and activities include cooking demonstrations, traditional occupational crafts, games and activities for children, dance lessons, sharing circles on language and traditional healing, and, of course, music.
The Creole culture is featured Sunday at Vermilionville with the eighth annual Creole Culture Day and Creole musician Goldman Thibodeaux will be honored annual Richard J. Catalon Sr. Creole Heritage Award.
The focus, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is on the living culture of the Creoles and activities include cooking demonstrations, traditional occupational crafts, games and activities for children, dance lessons, sharing circles on language and traditional healing, and, of course, music. This year, Donna Angelle & Her Zydeco Posse, the Creole Zydeco Farmers and slated to perform and a Creole jam (open to the public) will take place in the village.
During the year, a day is set aside for south Louisiana's three Creole, Cajun and Native American cultures that the historic park honors during the year, according to David Cheramie, CEO of the Bayou Vermilion District that oversees Vermilionville.
"That's the three main cultures we highlight here at Vermilionville and it's also a free day that we're giving back in honoring the cultures that made up what South Louisiana is today," says Cheramie,. "We're trying to give back to the public as much as possible by honoring the three cultures that we feature here at Vermilionville. And we're trying to give each of the cultures its day in the sun."
In addition, the Catalon Family presents a representative of the Creole community with the Richard J. Catalon Sr. Creole Heritage Award.
"Richard Catalon was a long-time tour guide and artisan here," says Cheramie, who recalls Catalon from 20 years ago when he himself worked at Vermilionville. "He was here already so that I can attest to a great cultural treasure he was here at Vermilionville."
Creole-Zydeco musician Thibodeaux is honored with the award for staying true to the traditional la-la music associated with the Creoles.
Originally from Lawtell, Thibodeaux grew up in a time where rooms were cleared to make way for house dances. He fronts and plays accordion for Goldman Thibodeaux & the Lawtell Playboys, and was fortunate enough to grow up with two pioneers of early Creole music, his uncles Bebe and Eraste Carriere.
For more information, go here or call (337) 233-4077.
10 a.m. United Blood Services Blood Drive
Richard J. Catalon Sr. Video
Demonstrations: Cornhusk Dolls, Job's Tears Rosary, Natural & Traditional Healing and Healer's Garden Tour
10:30 a.m. Creole Cooking Demonstration
Boat Tour
11 a.m. Award Ceremony & Interview with Goldman Thibodeaux
Printmaking, Rag Doll & Creole flag crafts, storytelling and games
11:30 a.m. Boat Tour ($5 for 30 min. tour)
12 p.m. Creole Language Sharing Circle
Creole Music Jam
Zydeco Dance Lesson (12 12:30 p.m.)
12:30 p.m. Creole Zydeco Farmers (12:30 2:30 p.m.)
1:30 p.m. Creole Cooking Demonstration with Chef Carolyn Shelton
Boat Tour ($5 for 30 min. tour)
2 p.m. Traditional Creole Healing Sharing Circle
2:30 p.m. Zydeco Dance Lesson
Boat Tour ($5 for 30 min. tour)
3 p.m. Donna Angelle & Her Zydeco Posse
3:30 p.m. Creole Cooking Demonstration with Chef Carolyn Shelton
Boat Tour ($5 for 30 min. tour)