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Rick Lorenzo and his group provided entertainment at the kickoff party

Chamber kick-off party highlights La. black bear

Prior to this weekend’s Bear Festival, the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce hosted a Business After Hours Kickoff Party on Thursday evening at the Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts.
The festival is not only an entertainment venue typical of south Louisiana, but also heightens awareness of the native Louisiana Black Bear.
The Black Bear Festival is St. Mary’s ecotourism opportunity: Educating the public on the parish’s native black bear species, which was rendered extinct in the past but is making a comeback, said festival organizer Edgar Dugas.
“I think (the black bear) just got de-listed last year off the Protected Species List,” Dugas said. “Land was dedicated for that purpose: To regrow the population of black bears.”
“(The Black Bear Festival is) just a good, clean, rounded festival from the run, to the fireworks, to the music, to the food,” Dugas continued. “This year, since I’ve been involved, we have the biggest lineup of food and arts and crafts vendors.”
“I think the good thing about the Bear Festival is that it’s not trying to compete with other festivals,” said Ed “Tiger” Verdun. “Having the Louisiana black bear as the mascot and doing ecotourism and educational awareness, I believe that really makes the festival (more) unique than any other festival that the state does.”
“The Chamber hosts (the Black Bear Kickoff Party) to promote what they’re doing, to get people all excited and say, ‘Oh, wow. This is what’s happening,’” said Donna Meyer, president of the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce. “So we (had) music and door prizes and free food and free refreshments…just to try to get people excited.”
The Black Bear Festival entailed boat rides to the Bayou Teche Wildlife Refuge which were provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition, there was an obstacle course, a 5K run, a teddy bear repair clinic and a raffle.
The Bayou Teche Wooden Boat Show was also held this weekend in association with the festival.
Local restaurants such as The Forest and Subway donated food while local businesses such as Chez Jolie and Chic and Shabby donated door prizes. Winners were drawn by the chamber’s organizer Iris Sharpe throughout the evening.
Live music included Louisiana Jukebox, Krossfyre, The 5 O’Clock Shadows, Rick Lorenze, Low Down and Waylon Thibodeaux.
A fireworks display illuminated the night sky on Saturday.

ST. MARY NOW

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