PRESS RELEASE

Feb. 18, 2015

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Brittany Racca

(337) 365-1540

(888) 942-3742

brittany@iberiatravel.com

iberiatravel.com

Iberia Parish Convention

and Visitors Bureau

Cajun Classique is back
April 13 - 19, 2015

BREAUX BRIDGE, La. --- The Southwest Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society is sponsoring the "Cajun Classique" cruise through the heart of Cajun country April 13-19, 2015.

As far as it is known, this excursion represents the only classic boat cruise west of the Mississippi River.

Registration for classic wooden boat enthusiasts is now open. Deadline to register is March 15. Registration and details of the cruise route and daily excursions can be found at CajunClassique.com.

"We've done this cruise last year, and it was a stunning success not only for the participants but also the spectators along the route," said Cory Werk, tour director, local outfitter and advocate for the recreational use of Bayou Teche. "Where else can you cruise down the bayou and enjoy a taste of Cajun culture? This year the Cajun Classique will touch all four parishes of Bayou Teche, with overnight stays in Breaux Bridge, New Iberia and Franklin, La."

The cruise will begin in Breaux Bridge and end at the Bayou Teche Wooden Boat Show and Black Bear Festival in Franklin. Considering the foibles of antique watercraft, a mechanic will be on call throughout the cruise.

South Louisiana has a long history of wooden boat building traditions. The "Cajun Classique" cruise down the oak-tree laden Bayou Teche will go through St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary parishes over seventy miles in two days.

Time out will be taken to experience the local culture including its indigenous music and food. The Teche's historic and cultural significance will be highlighted. A remnant of the Mississippi River's waters of 5,000 years ago, the Teche has seen Civil War battles, has welcomed the first settlements of the Cajuns in 1765, and is home to the oldest operating lock and dam structure in the Mississippi Delta. Boaters will lock through this 100-year old structure.

Cultural excursions include visiting New Iberia, the hometown of Pulitzer Prize nominated author James Lee Burke who writes about the famed Detective Dave Robicheaux; Breaux Bridge, the Crawfish Capital of the World; plantation homes; rice mills; the world-famous Tabasco plant and Jungle Gardens; and a visit with a local Cajun boat builder may prove the highlight of all.

"It's a perfect match," said Werk. "From the time Cajuns settled the swamps and bayous of South Louisiana, boats were a necessity for trapping, hunting and fishing for subsistence. They built their wooden boats by hand by watching and doing, not by reading a blue print. A folk art that still goes on today."

Registration and details of the cruise route and daily excursions can be found at CajunClassique.com. For more information, contact Cory Werk, 337-366-0337, cory@cajunclassique.com.

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The Iberia Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official parish marketing agency promoting New Iberia, Avery Island, Jefferson Island, Jeanerette, Loreauville and Delcambre as a destination. Marketing programs target leisure travelers, business travelers, media, entertainment industry, and the travel trade including group tour planners, meeting planners, sports planners and special event planners. The bureau operates a parish welcome center located at 2513 Hwy. 14 in New Iberia.

For more information on parish events and tourism assets, call the Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau at 337-365-1540 or visit IberiaTravel.com

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