For Immediate Release
October 29, 2008

OPELOUSAS MAIN STREET HOSTS CULTURAL EVENTS FOR MAIN TO MAIN EVENTS IN NOVEMBER

French Friday rehersals
Reenactment actors Sheryl Ned and Leon Chavis rehearse their parts for Talking History scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Courthouse Square.  Chavis will be portraying Zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier while Ned will portray Manon Balwin, a free woman of Color. 

(Opelousas, LA) – Opelousas Main Street, Inc. is pleased to be a part of Louisiana Main to Main initiative by offering two culturally entertaining events in November.  Main Street, Inc. will host its 2nd Annual French Friday on Friday, November 7, 2008, from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.  The event, which will be held at 105 North Main Street, located on the corner of North and Main Street in downtown Opelousas, will spotlight Cajun and Creole cultures with music by the Pine Leaf Boys and Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band.   French Friday will also feature Cajun and Creole food, horse and buggy rides, a silent auction featuring French and Louisiana themed items, free Zydeco dance lessons, and an Art Walk.  New to the event site will be a public mural illustrating the development of Zydeco through Creole heritage.

The Art Walk includes pen and ink Cajun scene artist Shelton Fontenot of Baton Rouge and Louisiana Photography from Sonny Monteleonie of Breaux Bridge.  Artist seeking to be a part of the Art Walk can contact Art Walk organizer Robbie Sebastien at 337-948-4367 or Opelousas Tourism/Opelousas Main Street at 337-948-5227.

In keeping with the French theme, the November 7th Main Street event will welcome the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) as the organization celebrates its 40 year anniversary. CODOFIL representatives will also set up a "La Table Francaise" tent for the event. 
Meanwhile, on the following day, Opelousas Main Street, with support from Opelousas Little Theatre, will also present Talking History…An Historical Reenactment Tour which will take place around the historical St. Landry Parish Courthouse Square.  Like the French Friday event, Talking History is free and open to the public.  Tour times are 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m.  Both locals and visitors are encouraged to come out and take a stroll around the Courthouse Square where tour guides dressed in period-style costumes lead them to actors who will portray individuals of historical significance in St. Landry Parish.  Some of those portrayed include Father James Hyland, the first priest of Holy Ghost Catholic Church; Manon Balwin, a free woman of color; Dr. Vincent Boagni, a noted Opelousas physician; Clifton and Cleveland Chenier, Zydeco pioneers; and Jim Bowie, legendary adventurer and inventor of the Bowie Knife. 

Louisiana Main to Main is an initiative of the Louisiana Main Street program within the Division of Historic Preservation and is sponsored by grants from the Office of the Lt. Governor and National Park Service Preserve America. Talking History…An Historical Reenactment Tour has been possible through a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Louisiana Main to Main: A Cultural Road Show is an annual statewide November initiative of Louisiana Main Street designed to foster economic development in Main Street communities and enhance the image of the State by promoting the Louisiana cultural experience in our many successful Louisiana Main Street communities.  A list of all 'Main to Main' events statewide is available at www.LouisianaMaintoMain.org.

For more information about French Friday or Talking History…An Historical Reenactment Tour, contact Opelousas Tourism at 337-948-5227 or 337-948-6263.