Shake Your Trail Feather Festival OCt. 19

BREAUX BRIDGE, La (press release) – The TECHE Project announced the 13th annual Shake Your Trail Feather Festival:  A celebration of the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail will be held on Oct. 19. The TECHE Project is a nonprofit group working to enhance the quality of life for communities and recreationalists on Bayou Teche. This volunteer group does periodic bayou cleanups and manages the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail, the only National Water Trail in Louisiana! The TECHE Project completed work on the National Paddle Trail infrastructure in 2023. That effort resulted in the installation of trailhead access docks and informative kiosks in all 15 communities along Bayou Teche. Boaters can motor or paddle on excursions from five to 12 miles apart. Patti Holland, executive director with The TECHE Project, says “The docks are close enough to plan a nice half-day paddle and have ample time to enjoy the culture and sites along the way.”

The Shake Your Trail Feather event is twofold, comprising a “Paddle Parade” and a “Party in the Parc” with food and live music. The Paddle Parade will start at Poche Bridge at 10 a.m. and goes 6.5 miles to Lil’s on the Teche south of Breaux Bridge. For those wishing to paddle a shorter distance, paddlers can pull out at Parc des Ponts in Breaux Bridge after 4.5 miles. The whacky, feather-clad Paddle Parade (no motorized boats, please) will float down Bayou Teche accompanied by live music with two Cajun bands playing on decorated barges. According to Holland, “Tickets to paddle are available on Eventbrite, and the paddle ticket also includes the Annual Event Pin featuring our 2024 theme bird.” This year’s bird is the blue jay, a common songbird along the bayou and one that is admired for its brilliant blue coloring. The TECHE Project also encourages residents along the bayou to join in the fun by watching from the bank.

After the parade, a celebration of the Bayou Teche National Paddle Trail will take place at Parc des Ponts in Breaux Bridge.  Anyone who is interested can come usher in the paddlers and show their support for the bayou. Starting at 11:30 a.m., there will be food vendors, libations, merchandise and kids’ activities. Live music with Balfa Toujours band will be playing on the stage from noon-2 p.m. According to TECHE Project Administrator Erin Z. Bass, “The celebration in the park is free to the public, but we encourage everyone to purchase a festival pin to support the work The TECHE Project is doing to build a first-class National Paddle Trail and ensure that Bayou Teche stays clean and beautiful.” Other event highlights include prizes for those dressed as birds and the ever-popular raffle of a kayak at 2 p.m.

Go to techeproject.org for more details about the paddle and the activities at the park. Proceeds from the event go toward building and managing the Bayou Teche National Paddle Trail, so come join the fun and Shake Your Trail Feathers for a good cause on Oct. 19!

WHERE: Poche’s Meat Market to Lil’s on the Teche with an

After-parade party at Parc des Ponts (Breaux Bridge)
WHEN: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024

WHY: Fundraiser for Bayou Teche Paddle Trail

COST: Register to paddle on Eventbrite for paddle only

Free to join the festivities at Parc des Ponts (120 St. Bernard St., Breaux Bridge)