The world-famous Detective Dave Robicheaux, created by New York Times bestselling author James Lee Burke, is coming home to Iberia Parish, Louisiana with his first festival, Dave Robicheaux’s Hometown Literary Festival: Celebrating Storytellers from Iberia & Beyond.
The festival will be held April 8 – 10, 2016 predominately in New Iberia’s Historic District, but will also have events around Iberia Parish.
Friday night kicks off with Bayou City Jam, a pig-roast party at the Shadows-on-the-Teche. Bands will serenade guests and you might even see Dave himself there, or quite a few of him. The Dave Robicheaux Look A Like Contest will crown the ultimate Dave doppelganger. So, prepare your best Cajun accent and outfit and we’ll see y’all there, cher!
Saturday starts with the Neon Rain 5k Run, followed by a University of Louisiana Lafayette Academic Symposium with panel discussions. Iberia Performing Arts League actors will perform vignettes with actor interpretations of a Dave Robicheaux novel, as well as other literary-based one act plays.
The day will also begin with a guided Dave Robicheaux tour, Last Tour to Elysian Fields, which will bring participants around Iberia Parish to visit locations like New Iberia’s Main Street, Victor’s Cafeteria and Bayou Teche. The tour will also be offered on Sunday.
At Eat With Clete there will be live music and Cajun delicacies in Bouligny Plaza. Books Along the Teche will hold an author fair and book signing along Main Street. Local and regional storytellers will offer readings of their works. Bourée lessons and a tournament will also take place.
On Saturday evening Black Cherry Blues & Boudin will showcase Cajun food and blues bands. Grab a drink and stroll down Main Street to see why Dave Robicheaux always wanted to come back home.
During the weekend, the Grand Theater will show In the Electric Mist starring Tommy Lee Jones. Guided Dave Robicheaux tours will bring participants around Iberia Parish to visit locations like New Iberia’s Main Street, Victor’s Cafeteria and Bayou Teche.
For RV accommodations, Iberia Parish has lots of options. The newest RV park, Cajun RVera, has a swim up bar, music on the weekends and is right in the heart of the city. Hotels are abundant with most right off of Hwy. 14, and the B&Bs are like your own home away from home in Cajun Country. Visit IberiaTravel.com/Where-Stay for more information.
The first annual Dave Robicheaux Literary Festival invites all literary lovers to stop by Iberia Parish for a great time.
Please note that James Lee Burke will not be in attendance as he will be out of state during festival. For more information visit, IberiaTravel.com/Dave-Robicheaux-Literary-Festival or look for the Dave Robicheaux Literary Festival on Eventbrite.com.
