NEW IBERIA, La. --- The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival (March 31 - April 2, 2023) is proud to announce that the Dave's Haunts & Jaunts bus and walking tours, T-Boy's Adventure Boat Tour of Bayou Teche and Live Oak Bike Tour have all returned for 2023.

On Fri., March 31, the Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau will sponsor this guided tour of the locations made famous in James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux book series and films.

Check in at 11:30 a.m. at the door of Dave’s favorite lunch spot, Victor’s Cafeteria (109 West Main St.), to collect your wristband for your included meal. At 11:45 a.m. the tour officially begins over lunch.

Following will be a luxury bus tour where you will visit the Teche Motel, Cane River Pecan Company, historical New Iberia sites, and more of Dave Robicheaux’s favorite spots. The tour will end at the Iberia Parish Library for an art guild exhibit and reception before returning you to Bouligny Plaza to continue your festival fun.

Tickets are $70. Online ticket purchases are highly recommended as bus seats are limited, and there is no guarantee of same-day ticket availability.

Take a guided walking tour of New Iberia’s National Register Historic District locations made famous in James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux book series and films on Sat., April 1.

Check-in in front of Victor’s Cafeteria (109 West Main St.) at 11:30 a.m. before visiting the Bayou Teche Museum, Books Along the Teche and more. Tour will be led by Tours by Steven. Due to traffic noise and space, this tour will be limited to the first 18 participants. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online.

The TECHE Project will sponsor guided tours of Bayou Teche on party barges from the boat launch at New Iberia City Park (325 Marie St.) on Sun. April 2.

Tours are at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. A local guide will narrate Teche Area history and detail local efforts to preserve and maintain the bayou, while highlighting points of interest along the way. The tour returns to City Park. Seating is limited and online reservations are recommended. Tickets are $30.

In the event of inclement weather, alternate entertainment will be offered at Shadows Visitor Center (320 E. Main St.). No refunds will be offered.

Live Oak Bike Tour:

On Sun., April 2,take a bike ride down Main Street New Iberia with University of Louisiana at Lafayette professor and local arborist Jim Foret, who will enlighten you about the gorgeous oak trees that grace our city, along one of the most beautiful Main Streets in the country.

The free tour begins at the Shadows-on-the-Teche Visitor Center (320 E. Main St.) at 9 a.m. To rent a bike, go to latrail.org/oak. The bike must be rented by March 29.

About the Festival:

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, 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 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.