NEW IBERIA, La. --- La Asociación Española de Nueva Iberia (LAENI) will host the Spanish Festival Gala and 2022 Festival Poster Unveiling on Thurs., March 10, 2022, at the Sliman Theatre (129 East Main St.) in downtown New Iberia from 6-10 p.m. This year’s poster artist is New Iberia's mayor, Freddie DeCourt.
Start the evening off with a viewing of the Spanish exhibit at the Bayou Teche Museum followed by the gala. Enjoy a night filled with gourmet foods from local restaurants, beer/wine/sangria, live and silent auctions, and live entertainment by The Cast.
Tickets entitle holders to a one year membership to LAENI. If interested in purchasing tickets please contact, Brinkley Lopez, LAENI vice president, at (337) 380-7636 or
spanishfestival@gmail.com
The festival also invites the public to a thanksgiving mass honoring New Iberia's founding families on March 13 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter Catholic Church (108 E. St. Peter St.).
About the festival:
El Festival Español de Nueva Iberia celebrates the Spanish culture and heritage in New Iberia. The festival's focus and mission is to celebrate the 1779 founding of New Iberia by 16 Spanish families from Malaga, Spain and to create an educational and cultural awareness while recognizing the contributions of the original Spanish settlers to Louisiana.
"Since the last festival happened in 2019, LAENI is excited and looking forward to having everyone attend the 8th Annual El Festival Español de Nueva Iberia on April 8-10, 2022 in Bouligny Plaza on historic Main Street New Iberia, Lopez said.
The festival's planning committee has been working diligently in preparation for this year’s festival theme: 'Taste of Spain on the Teche': Celebrating Nueva Iberia with food, music, culture, and more."
New additions to the festival weekend include an inaugural boat parade down the Bayou Teche followed by bands, and carnival rides and games for the children.
The festival will provide many activities throughout the weekend, including an arts and crafts show, paella/jambalaya/tapas/Spanish dessert cookoff, Spanish genealogy displays, open car show, carnival rides and games, live Spanish entertainment and music at the Steamboat Pavilion.
Closing out the festival weekend on Sunday, there will be a heritage and royalty parade down Main Street, arts and crafts show, food trucks, live music, and carnival rides and games.
