NEW IBERIA, La. --- More than 100,000 Acadians and their friends from across the world gathered in August to celebrate their heritage at Congrès Mondial Acadien 2014, or Acadian World Congress, in Edmunston and New Brunswick, Canada, and Madawaska, Maine.

Iberia Parish Tourist Commission's Vice Chairman Darnelle Delcambre was Iberia Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau's representative at the event. She spoke of her experience at the Iberia Parish board of directors meeting on Aug. 22 .

Accompanying her on the trip was Marion Fox from the Jeff Davis Convention & Visitors Bureau, Celeste Gomez from the St. Landry CVB, Colten Miller from the Terrebonne Parish CVB and Jennifer Young who is Delcambre's granddaughter.

"Main Street Madawaska, which is about the size of Jeanerette, was decorated with Acadian flags and flowered wooden benches in its colors (red, white and blue)," Delcambre said. "They really went all out for the festival."

The festival was hosted by the "Acadia of the Land and Forests," which consists of northern Main, southeast Quebec and northwest New Brunswick. Although the event is held every five years, this was the first time in 25 years that a congrès was hosted by two countries in two time zones.

"I met many friendly Acadians from Montreal, Quebec and small towns nearby who were coming to the festival, and I was even interviewed by a French reporter and photographer from Paris, asking about my reason for attending," Delcambre recalled.

From Aug. 8 - Aug. 24, more than 300 different activities took place. Perhaps the biggest events were the family reunions, which saw people from across the world meeting family they didn't even know they had, and the mass on the first day.

"The first event attended was the mass on Friday, which was Acadian Day in Madawaska. More than 4,000 people attended, including four bishops and dozens of priests from Quebec, New Brunswick, Maine and beyond," Delcambre said. "Everything was in French and it was just so beautiful."

The next event was the Tintamarre, which is reminiscent of a Mardi Gras parade, "but louder" according to Delcambre. Tintamarre is a tradition where many people march through the community making as much noise as possible, usually in celebration of National Acadian Day.

On both Saturday and Monday, which was Louisiana Day, Delcambre promoted Iberia Parish at Expo Monde, a world exhibit where she handed out brochures and TABASCO® samples before enjoying the outdoor concert that night.

"It was a pleasure to meet the locals, officials and celebrities from Louisiana, Canada and the United States, and to attend as a representative for Iberia Parish," Delcambre said.

For a first-hand look at the festival, visit IberiaTravel.com/Blog where Delcambre shares her experience.