Acadian Day

The original Acadians were 17th-century French colonists who settled in the area known as Acadia, which covered what is now Nova Scotia as well as Prince Edward Island, and parts of northern Maine and Quebec. Their French-speaking descendants in the Maritime Provinces continue to honor their heritage by holding many local Acadian Day celebra-tions, usually during the summer months.
Fifty thousand people attend the Acadian Festival in Cara-quet, New Brunswick, the largest of these celebrations. The festival takes place for 14 days in August each year and includes Acadian dance performances, cabaret, and concerts as well as sporting contests and a blessing of the fleet. The highlight of the festival is "L’Acadie en Fete," a huge celebra-tion involving Acadian musicians, singers, artists, and actors.

CONTACT:
Festival Acadien de Caraquet 220 boul. St-Pierre Ouest, bureau
312 Caraquet, NB E1W 1A5 Canada 506-727-ARTS (2787); fax: 506-727-1995 festival@nbnet.nb.ca
Tourism New Brunswick
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB Canada E3B
5H1 800-561-0123 www@gnb.ca