2024 Evangeline will lead the celebrations at the International Acadian Festival in October
The foundational tradition of the annual International Acadian Festival reached a new high on Saturday, August 24, when Oliva Ann Sanchez was named Evangeline 2024.
The announcement was made during the Evangeline Court’s annual presentation ceremony at the Knights of Columbus 970 home in Plaquemine.
The 12th-grader at St. John High School is the daughter of Keith and Kim Sanchez of Plaquemine. She succeeds MacKenzie Grace Jane’t, who was selected in August 2023.
The ceremony marked the end of a long day for the 15 young ladies who had been interviewed before the social gathering where the decision was announced.
“I’m very happy and excited,” Sanchez said shortly after she was announced as Evangeline. “With all these wonderful girls here tonight, I never expected to be chosen.”
Sanchez will lead the International Acadian Festival celebration and other events over the next year as part of a local tradition started in 1969 by the late Gary J. Hebert – co-founder of POST/SOUTH and longtime member of the Knights of Columbus.
Selecting Evangeline is a difficult task for the jury every year, Smith said.
“While I’m sure any one of you could be Evangeline, that’s not how it works,” he said. “One of you has led our judges to believe that you are the one who could best represent our council and our community.”
This year’s festival produced a historic footnote with the introduction of Amalie Grace Dupont, Maddie Alanna Dupont and Shelbie Faith Dupont, the first triplets to be admitted to an Evangeline Court.
Here are this year’s festival princesses:
- Sarah Elizabeth Barberof MSA West and representative of the Plaquemine Knights of Columbus Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents Jacob and Laurie Barbier.
- Saige Madison Berthelot, from St. John School and represented the White Castle Lions Club. She was accompanied by her parents Christy Diez Martinez and Brandon Berthelot.
- Allison Marie Boudreaux, from St. John School and represents the Plaquemine Knights of Columbus Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents, Dwayne and Mindy Boudreaux.
- Katie Mae Bourgoyneof MSA West and representing the Plaquemine Knights of Columbus Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents Travis and Rennie Bourgoyne.
- Ainsley Marie Crowsonfrom St. John High School and representative of the Plaquemine Knights of Columbus Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents Clark and Kaley Crowson.
- Annalyse Marie Doylefrom St. John High School and representing the Plaquemine Knights of Columbus Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents, Daniel and Ashley Doyle.
- Amalie Grace Dupont, from St. John High School and represents the Plaquemine Knights of Columbus Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents, Devon and Brittany Dupont.
- Maddie Alanna Dupont, from St. John High School and represents the Plaquemine Knights of Columbus Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents, Devon and Brittany Dupont.
- Shelbie Faith Dupont, from St. John High School and represents the Plaquemine Knights of Columbus Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents, Devon and Brittany Dupont.
- Gracie Lee Gantt, from St. John High School and represented the Grosse Tete Lions Club. She was accompanied by her parents Edward and Sandy Gantt.
- Amelia Jeanne‘ Gaudetfrom St. John High School and representative of the Plaquemine Knights of Columbus Council 970. She was accompanied by her mother, Heidi Bujol, and her grandfather, Billy Bujol.
- Camille Nichols Haydel, from St. John School and represented Plaquemine Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents, Jeffrey and Susan Haydel.
- Marley Michael Ourso, from St. John High School and represented Plaquemine Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents, Deanne Durand and Shannon Ourso.
- Karsyn Leigh Vadnais, from St. John High School and represents Plaquemine Council 970. She was accompanied by her parents Henry and Trendy Vadnais.
Soon
The celebration mass and presentation will be held on Saturday, October 12th at 4 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, followed by a presentation at 6 p.m. at the Carl F. Grant Civic Center.
The Water Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 26, during the International Acadian Festival on Bayou Plaquemine.
Long-standing tradition
The event is a tradition of the International Acadian Festival, which this year takes place October 28-30 at the Mark A. “Tony” Gulotta Bayou Plaquemine Waterfront Park.
Council No. 970 of the Knights of Columbus has sponsored the event since its inception as the “Cajun Festival” in 1969.
The Evangeline Water Ceremony honors the Acadian roots shared by many of the area’s residents and includes a reenactment of Longfellow’s poem in which Acadian exile Emmeline LaBiche (Evangeline) descends from Bayou Plaquemine on her journey to Teche Country in search of her lover Louis Arceneaux (Gabriel).
At the ceremony, Evangeline – the festival queen – arrives with fire-lit pirogues to greet the crowds in Waterfront Park.
