Local Spanish culture in New Iberia was highlighted this weekend with the New Iberia Spanish Festival offering a host of activities to the public. 

The festival put on by La Asociación Española de Nueva Iberia, put on events from Friday to Sunday that were aimed at celebrating all things Spanish in New Iberia. 

Although the Teche Area is famous for its Cajun roots, New Iberia holds the special privilege of being founded by Spanish immigrants that settled in the area. The Spanish last names that are common in New Iberia like Segura, Gary and Romero are all vestiges of the original Spanish founding families that initially came to the city. 

To celebrate that, the Spanish association held everything from a genealogy workshop to flamenco dancers over the three day period that attracted event-goers from near and far to take part in the festivities. 

Saturday’s schedule included the Running of the Bulls 5K Run, which was followed by the Founding Families Parade that saw New Iberia natives walk down the parade route bearing flags displaying local Spanish surnames. 

Carnival rides, live musical performances and even arts and crafts were also on the schedule as the event happened. 

The festival was temporarily closed Saturday night after a shooting took place in Bouligny Plaza, killing a 14-year-old boy who was pronounced dead at the local hospital.