NEW IBERIA, La. --- The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival (April 1-3, 2022) is proud to announce a ton of fun and educational free events for the 2022 festival.

When: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Where: Iberia Parish Library Main Branch (445 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Exhibit featuring original artwork created by L'Acadian Art Guild artists will be on display during library hours. A reception to meet the artists will be held from 1-2 p.m.

When: 9 - 10 a.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Phebe Hayes, Ph. D., historian from the Iberia Parish African American Historical Society, will provide an overview of how 19th century historical events (Civil War, Reconstruction and Jim Crow) unfolded in New Iberia and the surrounding areas.

When: 10 - 11 a.m.

Where: Iberia Parish Library Main Branch (445 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Children ages 0-5 will learn about tidying up and taking care of our city as well as our parish. They will create their own superhero that tackles trash. Registration not required.

When: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: This panel will look at the impact Dr. Gaines had on the literary world and the community that profoundly influenced his fiction. They will discuss how his work and his lifelong mission continue through the Ernest J. Gaines Center and there will be time to share memories and impressions of the man and the author. Speakers include Marcia Gaudet, Ph. D., the first director of the Ernest J. Gaines Center; Cheylon Woods, the center's current head and archivist; and Dianne Saulney Gaines, Esq., Dr. Gaines' widow.

Panel Discussion on The Year of the Yellow Jack

When: 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Where: Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitors Center (320 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Panel discussion on The Year of the Yellow Jack. In her book, author Anne L. Simon uses her background in legal research, coupled with her storytelling skills to evoke the tale of Félicité and those who knew her, shedding new light on the historical context surrounding one of Bayou Country’s most legendary figures, and most frightening struggles. Speakers include Anne Simon, author and retired judge, and Ann Dobiet, Professor Emerita of English at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Readers’ Theater A Gathering of Old Men

When: 4 - 5 p.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Iberia Performing Arts League will present onstage dialogue and narration from A Gathering of Old Men by the 2017 Great Southern Writer Ernest Gaines. The group will read excerpts from the 1983 novel about a murder on a Louisiana plantation.

When: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Where: Iberia Parish Library Main Branch (445 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Exhibit featuring original artwork created by L'Acadian Art Guild artists will be on display during library hours.

When: 9 - 10 a.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Have you ever wanted to share your favorite book? You can do this and increase literacy in your neighborhood by learning to build and run your own Little Free Library. Come and have a master craftsman and designer help you design your own. Anne Darrah, a leader in the revitalization of Lil’ Brooklyn, will give a hands-on demonstration of how to build your own unique Little Free Library. Catherine Schoeffler Comeaux will also give background on Little Free Libraries and what it is like to run a Little Free Library of your own.

When: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Main Street New Iberia

Details: Main Street will be bustling as published authors (adult and children) with something to say about the south will share their books. Music will fill the air and food vendors will be on hand.

When: 10 - 11 a.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Join author/poet Margaret Simon and author/illustrator Paul Schexnayder in this drawing and writing workshop. Learn about facial proportions and the elements of writing an autobiographic poem. This workshop is for children ages 8-12, but will be limited to 12 children.

When: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: George Rodrigue Park (211 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Get to know your local and regional children’s authors. They will be on hand to take pictures, meet and greets, and answer questions. Take your picture with Alycat from the Alycat Series.

When: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Where: Iberia Parish Library Main Branch (445 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Grab a bag as we pick up trash and tell a story along the way. Stop by local businesses, a park and a children’s author fair. After you have completed the story walk, pick up your goody bag from the library. Be sure to bring your smart phone. There will be QR codes to scan for some bonus fun along the way.

When: 11:45 a.m. - 1: 15 p.m.

Where: Victor's Cafeteria (109 W. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Take a guided walking tour of New Iberia’s Historic District locations made famous in James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux book series and films. Check in at Victor’s Cafeteria. Visit the Bayou Teche Museum, Victor’s Cafeteria, Books Along the Teche, Shadows-on-the-Teche gardens and more.

Due to traffic noise and space, this tour will be limited to the first 18 participants that show up for the tour.

When: 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Come and listen as Iberia Performing Arts League presents dialogue and narration of a James Lee Burke novel. You will be transported into the life of Dave Robicheaux, New Iberia’s favorite detective.

The Best of Enemies Movie Screening

When: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Where: Grand Theater (1000 Parkview Dr., New Iberia)

Details: Free screening of the movie based on the novel by Great Southern Writer Osha Gray Davidson. A timely drama that centers on an unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater (Taraji P. Henson), an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis (Sam Rockwell), a local Ku Klux Klan leader who reluctantly co-chaired a community summit, battling over the desegregation of schools in Durham, North Carolina, during the racially-charged summer of 1971. The incredible events that unfolded would change Durham and the lives of Atwater and Ellis forever.

When: 1:30 - 2:45 p.m.

Where: Sliman Theater (129 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: The James Lee Burke symposium, sponsored by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's College of Liberal Arts, will examine James Lee Burke’s works and his New Iberia detective, Dave Robicheaux. The primary speaker will be Randy Holmes, Ph. D., who will furnish symposium participants with a rousing exposition of one of his favorite Burke novels, In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead. His presentation, entitled “Dead Rebs, Magical Realism, and the Blue Plate Special: Burke’s Electric Mist,” promises to carry the grace, beauty and humor of the author Holmes has loved and written on throughout his entire classical career.

When: 9 - 11 a.m.

Where: Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitors Center (320 East Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Stroll down Main Street with University of Louisiana professor and local arborist Jim Foret, who will enlighten you about the gorgeous oak trees that grace our lovely city, along one of the most beautiful Main Streets in the country. The walk ends at the Quarter Tavern.

When: 1:30-5:30 p.m.

Where: Iberia Parish Library Main Branch (445 E. Main St., New Iberia)

Details: Exhibit featuring original artwork created by L'Acadian Art Guild artists will be on display during library hours.

When: 3 - 5 p.m.

Where: New Iberia City Park (300 Parkview Dr., New Iberia)

Details: Iberia Cultural Resources Association will present a concert by the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra in the shade of New Iberia City Park’s beautiful live oaks. The music selection will range from Phantom of the Opera to Harry Potter and Duke Ellington.

Come early and bring your picnic lunch and lawn chairs. Music by Andy Smith will start before the concert at 1 p.m. A balloon artist will be giving out free balloons from 1-3 p.m. There will be a beverage booth serving wine, beer and soft drinks for purchase and the Beignet Box food truck will be selling items including beignets and coffee. There will be thee prizes for Best Picnic Theme. The first place prize will be a painting of the winning group.

For free shuttle pickup and return, attendees need to make a reservation by calling Joy Gerhart at (337) 364-2153. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held at the Sugar Cane Festival Building (600 Parkview Drive).

With a focus on Great Southern Writers, the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival highlights Iberia Parish authors and others who write about the unique culture of Louisiana. Events include cooking demonstrations, workshops on writing, book fair, academic symposiums, receptions, poetry, music, live oak walk, movie screenings, children's activities, readers theater and more. Participants can learn Cajun dancing or how to play bouree, and tour the areas described in the Dave Robicheaux novels.

The festival is presented by the New Iberia Main Street Program and the Iberia Preservation Alliance (a coalition of Iberia Cultural Resources Association, Bayou Teche Museum and Shadows-on-the-Teche).

To purchase individual tickets or all inclusive passes, visit BonTempsTix.com.

For festival information, e-mail techefest@gmail.com or call (337) 519-9233.

Visit BooksAlongTheTecheLiteraryFestival.com or their Facebook, and sign up for festival updates on IberiaTravel.com (select Dave Robicheaux news). For travel information, visit IberiaTravel.com.

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For more information on parish events and tourism assets, call the bureau at 337-365-1540 or visit IberiaTravel.com