Ask Teche Area residents if they’ve ever attended the Books Along The Teche Literary Festival, and organizers might find only a handful of locals who have — besides the volunteers who look forward to returning events. Ask any number of All Access Ticket holders if they’ve been to the festival in prior years and some will say, “Every year.”

What started as a book festival based on the Dave Robicheaux series by James Lee Burke, now at 21 books set in New Iberia, has become a celebration of the culture that continues to bring travelers from around the world.

“We had a tour guide from Lafayette at the museum the other day and he said when people come to Lafayette, they always want to include New Iberia as one of their stops,” said the Bayou Teche Museum director Marcia Patout at last week’s festival committee meeting. “They insist on it, he said.”

Tabasco at Avery Island, Rip Van Winkle Gardens and the historical Conrad Rice Mill are part of the reasons but as the museum and news of the special cultural events spreads, the planned excursions to New Iberia for a fully casual Cajun weekend is growing.

In the fourth year of the festival, now called Books Along The Teche Literary Festival, residents from three neighboring states are headed to the Bayou Teche April 5-7. One group of 25 plus a smaller group, will be traveling from Alabama.

“We were in Alabama talking with friends about how much fun they had last year at the festival and some of the alumni from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa heard us and are coming this year,” said Becky Collins, catering coordinator for the opening reception and Saturday evening party. “A couple who attended last year went back and organized the university alumni group that’s coming this year. They’ll arrive on Thursday.”

Another group will be coming from St. Louis including a returning attendee from Memphis. A contingent is coming from Hot Springs, friends of Carla Mouton, Cathy Indest’s sister.

The literary familiarity due to Burke’s books continues to be part of the festival, but more than written words create the fun-filled weekend. Two fan favorites are the opening reception and Boogie on Down, Saturday evening’s party where live music and Cajun cooking delight locals and visitors alike. Read more on the special Louisiana Seafood feast happening April 5 in Wednesday’s Food & Drink section of The Daily Iberian.

The authors setting up to sell and sign their books are depending on readers to help carry their expressions and stories away from the weekend. More than 100 authors from Acadiana have penned their fiction and non-fiction books set in the region, but to keep the interest of attending the Author Fair, readers and book buyers are encourged to meet and greet the regional writers.

Established festivals depend on returning sponsors and traditional festival goers buying souvenirs or food from vendors to help support the events. Organizers for this event provide both free and select ticketed events to help defray the cost of hosting the cultural activities that keeps people coming back — and inspire others to actually relocate here.

A list of events is provided today so residents can make plans now to attend. Full descriptions of the ticketed and free events, some in limited seating areas that require a ticket, can be found at BooksAlongTheTeche LiteraryFestival.com or by the festival name on EventBrite.com. More about this year’s Great Southern Writer will be forthcoming in a feature story later this week in The Daily Iberian.

Last minute decisions to attend will still require tickets that also can be purchased at The Shadows Visitors Center starting April 1. For catered events, please register early. For more information or to volunteer call 298-7964.

Still Time for Authors

All published authors who have mailed in Books Along the Teche Literary Festival applications and payments have been accepted and will receive notice about setup via email next week.

Not yet signed up? There is still time to show your books to residents and out-of-town visitors. Contact Howard Kingston at Books Along The Teche Bookstore today or until April 6, the day of the festival at 367-7621.

“We now have a great location in case of rain right on Main Street across from the Bayou Teche Museum,” said Kingston. “Please check in at the bookstore Friday evening or Saturday morning (April 5 and 6) for your table locations on the street.”