Fund-raisers raise the fun in Breaux Bridge next Saturday

The TECHE Project’s “Shake Your Trail Feather Festival” and “The Teche Fest” art walk and raffle benefitting the new Teche Center for the Arts in Breaux Bridge will converge here Saturday, Oct. 17, for a day of music and culture.
“Shake Your Trail Feather” will be held in Parc des Ponts de Pont Breaux, on the bayou’s west bank north of the iconic Crawfish Bridge, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. There’s no cost to get in. The purchase of a $5 official festival pin constitutes a fund-raiser for the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail.
“The TECHE Project continues to be a positive influence for the bayou and is working hard to build a first class paddle trail,” said Dona Degatur Richard, with the St. Martin Parish Tourism Office.
“Trails that accommodate bicyclists, runners, and paddlers are great ways to draw tourists to our Parish, and also improve the quality of life for those of us who work and live on the bayou,” Richard said.
Meanwhile in the city’s historic downtown, The Teche Fest will feature over 35 of Acadiana’s finest artists in a day long art walk and raffle in downtown Breaux Bridge. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Concert performances in Parc des Ponts will include The St. Bernard School Musicians 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., David Greely and Megan Brown noon to 1 p.m., The Magnolia Sisters 1:30-3:30 p.m., and Horace Trahan and Ossun Express 4-6 p.m.
Cajun Paddle will be partnering by hosting a “Paddle to the Party” float trip. Kayaks, canoes, and paddle boats will paddle from Poche Bridge to the park with a floating band escort. In addition, The TECHE Project is partnering with TRAIL to host the “Trail Feathers” bike event with 3 routes. There is also a combined cycle and paddle to the party option available. For more information about these activities, contact bayoutecheexperience.com about paddling and techeproject@gmail.com about the bike or bike/paddle options.
The TECHE Project is a non-profit group working to raise awareness of the environmental, cultural, historical, and recreational values of Bayou Teche. This volunteer group has removed over 50 tons of trash from the bayou, has gotten the Bayou listed as a National Water Trail, the only one in Louisiana, and is currently implementing grant funded projects to build floating docks in several towns and the trail’s very first trailhead facility in Breaux Bridge.