WHO: TECHE Project 
WHAT: Shake Your Trail Feather
WHERE: Parc des Ponts, Breaux Bridge
WHEN: Noon to 6 pm, Saturday, October 20th
WHY: Fundraiser for Bayou Teche Paddle Trail
COST: Free, with official festival pins available for purchase
The T.E.C.H.E. Project is a non-profit group working to raise awareness of the environmental, cultural, historical, and recreational values of Bayou Teche. At this time, we are proud to announce a collaboration between Christine Balfa and the TECHE Project to bring the first annual Shake Your Trail Feather concert event to Breaux Bridge. This annual concert will help raise funds to create projects and maintain facilities along the new Bayou Teche Paddle Trail. The Bayou Teche Paddle Trail will be a National Park Service recognized paddle trail that will draw paddlers from around the U.S. to experience paddling in Cajun Country. “I live on Bayou Teche and I am excited we are inviting so many people to visit this special water trail. It’s a real moment of pride to designate Bayou Teche as a national destination to explore,” says Christine Balfa. “I know paddlers will take care of our water and respect our land.”
Shake Your Trail Feather will begin at Noon on Saturday, October 20th. The cost is free; however, the TECHE Project is raising funds for Bayou Teche Paddle Trail projects by selling an official festival pin for $5. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase. Concert performances will include David Egan and 20 Years of Trouble, Roddie Romero and the Hub-City All Stars, and BonSoir Catin.
Pack & Paddle is providing a kayak for raffle. Tickets will be $2 per piece and you must be present to win. Bayou Teche Brewing will also make samples of their craft brew available. Bayou Teche Experience will host a low-cost kayak trip with free shuttle service (kayak included) from Poche Bridge to Breaux Bridge at 9:00am which is scheduled to arrive in Breaux Bridge at noon. Bayou Teche Experience is also providing free kayak lessons for kids from 1pm to 3pm onsite.
Louisiana Folk Roots will host a “Heritage Tent” where host Todd Mouton will interview members of the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana and long-time residents and historians of the Bayou Teche to highlight the rich cultural heritage of the Bayou Teche.
The National Park Service will be on hand to answer questions. The Center for Cultural and Eco Tourism (CCET) and TECHE Project will unveil the new, official Paddle Trail logo. Attakapas-Ishak Trail planners at the Municipal Planning Organization and Transportation Recreation Alternative in Louisiana (TRAIL) will be on-site to discuss the proposed multi-use trailhead being designed for Parc des Ponts and the three-parish-wide Attakapas-Ishak multi-purpose trail. Tour du Teche will also share highlights from the 3rd annual kayak and canoe race, the first Petite Tour du Teche, and the upcoming Cycle Cajun Country. TECHE Project’s Bill Fontenot and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host an “ask and answer” tent to talk about native plants and their value to the Bayou Teche watershed.
The Bayou Teche Water Sentinels will be honored for 2 years of service for testing water quality on Bayou Teche. The volunteers will make their findings available to the public on this day.
St. Martin Parish Tourism and the City of Breaux Bridge have partnered with the TECHE Project to make this concert possible. “Recreation trails that accommodate bicyclists, runners and paddlers are an innovative and fun way to draw tourists to our town. It also improves the quality of life for our residents by providing them options to participate in safe, outdoor recreation activities in our own community,” says Tina Begnaud from the Breaux Bridge Chamber of Commerce and Department of Tourism.
In the event of rain, the event will be held in the Glass Room at Buck and Johnny’s Pizzeria in Breaux Bridge.