February 2, 2019 • New Iberia, Louisiana

Photos By corey vaughn | The Daily Iberian

Pierre C. Shadeaux did in fact see his shadow Saturday morning during the Cajun Groundhog Day event at Bouligny Plaza. The event attracted a crowd in downtown New Iberia, where men, women and children waited with bated breath for the local nutria to emerge from its special hut to make its annual prediction on weather for the next few months.

Several in the crowd, including Pat Kahle from Shadows-on-the-Teche and Hester Patout Bourdier, admitted they had been wanting to come to the event in years past. Finally, the official Cajun Groundhog Day fell on a Saturday so the crowd was larger on this 20th anniversary than in years past. 

The forecast, announced by 2018 Citizen of the Year Ray Escuriex Sr., unfortunately signals a shorter spring and longer, hotter summer quickly encroaching upon Acadiana. His animated narrative was enjoyed by the onlookers. Shadeaux’s prediction was held after the essay winners for the Pierre C. Shadeaux contest read their winning entries on why the Cajun Groundhog is important to New Iberia.

The Daily Iberian publisher Christina Pierce, acknowledged the founder of the event who was also in the crowd, retired publisher Will Chapman.