Shake Your Trail Feather Paddle Parade Returns

BREAUX BRIDGE, La. — The TECHE Project is canceling its full-blown annual Shake Your Trail Feather Festival again due to COVID-19, but the Paddle Parade will go on Sat., Oct. 16.

Bands Amis du Teche and UL Cajun Band Ensemble will escort via barge as folks float for a two-hour paddle down Bayou Teche. The parade begins at Poche’s Meat Market at Poche Bridge and ends at Parc des Ponts in Breaux Bridge. When the parade ends in Breaux Bridge, there will be food, a full bar, merchandise for sale, a Best Bird Costume Contest and a 1 p.m. raffle of several gift cards.

Participants will check-in at Poche’s at 9:30 a.m. on Sat., Oct. 16. The parade is from 10 a.m.-noon, with a free raffle for those who can show proof of vaccination held at 1 p.m.

Registration is limited and available via Eventbrite. Parade is limited to non-motorized watercrafts, and boat/kayak rentals are available from Bayou Teche Experience, Pack and Paddle and The Backpacker. A pre-paddle shuttle is also available for $5.

About The TECHE Project:

This event is a fundraiser for nonprofit The TECHE Project, and proceeds go toward building the Bayou Teche National Paddle Trail, which will provide access docks and other amenities for paddlers in the 13 towns along Bayou Teche. This fall, there will be 11 paddle trail docks and accompanying informational kiosks installed on the bayou. The TECHE Project encourages everyone to ENRICH, EXPLORE and EMBRACE the Bayou Teche.

For more information visit TecheProject.org and their Facebook page or contact Patti Holland at (337) 277-4645 or techeproject@gmail.com.