by KAREN LAGRANGE COX, Photos by LARRY COX
The second annual Beausoleil Festival and Jambalaya was held at Arceneaux Park in Broussard, Louisiana, on April 20, 2024. In the opening ceremony, Louisiana State Representative Josh Carlson of District 43 read the Beausoleil Festival and Jambalaya Cookoff Proclamation established by the Brousssard City Council.
Twenty-five teams participated in the cookoff, hoping to be voted the festival’s attendees’ favorite jambalaya.
Zydeco musician Geno Delafosse & French Rockin Boogie were the performers for the festival
The festival is named after Joseph “Beausoleil” Broussard, son of Jean-François Broussard and Catherine Richard, an Acadia leader who later became Nova Scotia in Canada. He refused to accept the authority of the British Crown over Acadia and was part of the Acadian Resistance. He was considered a hero for leading his people from Acadia to south Louisiana. He arrived in south Louisiana in 1765 and is believed to have passed away about six months later. [Learn more about Broussard on Wikipedia]
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