Traditional Mardi Gras Celebration
Bienvenue à Vincennes
Monday January 28th, 2008 Itinerary
- 7:00pm-8:00pm Dennis Stroughmatt Informational Program.
The Fortnightly Club :: 421 North 6th Street
Admission Free
French Creole musician and musical historian Dennis Stroughmatt will present “The Season of Carnival in Old Vincennes” with explanations of the differences and similarities of lower and upper Louisiana festival seasons including the traditions of Mardi Gras and the New Year’s Eve “Guillannee”. Dennis will also perform two or three musical examples on his fiddle.
Friday February 1st, 2008 Itinerary
Saturday February 2nd, 2008 Itinerary
- 7am-10:30am Old Cathedral Pancake breakfast
St. Francis Xavier Parish Center :: 100 South Third Street
Experience Vincennes’ oldest Mardi Gras tradition - the French Pancake Breakfast – hosted by Indiana’s oldest church – The St. Francis Xavier Basilica.
Prices are
$6 for Adults
$3 for children 4-12yrs
Free under 4yrs
- 10am-1pm Tour the Old French House/Vielle Maison de Brouillet
The Michel Brouillet House :: 509 North 1st Street
Enjoy hot mulled apple cider while you tour the only French style vertical (vs. horizontal) log cabin remaining in Indiana built in 1806 by fur trapper Michel Brouillet.
- 12:00PM “Founder’s Day Mardi Gras Parade” Cancelled unfortunately due to construction on Main Street. See you next year!
- 1:00pm-3:00pm Children’s “Mardi Gras Party”
Knox County Public Library
: :
502 North 7th Street
Admission Free but registration required – please call 812/886-4380
Learn about some of the traditions of Mardi Gras, make your own party mask and eat some French cookies. Brittany Sutton of the LHS Foreign Language Club will read a bilingual French/English story.
- 3:00-5:00pm Romantic Late Luncheon at the Hearth of Michel Brouillet
The Old French House :: 509 North 1st Street
Cost: $75 per person and seating is limited. Please call the Vincennes State Historic Sites for reservations 812/882-7422.
- 4:00pm-until the soup is gone “The Fricassee Cook-Off Challenge” (Carry-in)
The Fortnightly Club :: 421 North 6th Street
Admission Free - Tasting cup is only $2
Help decide which local church, organization or cook owns the best recipe for Indiana’s oldest prepared dish – Chicken Fricassee! The Fricassee Cook-Off will be your only chance until this summer to eat freshly-made fricassee by your favorite local purveyors.
To receive a Fricassee Cook-Off Challenge Entry Form please call the Vincennes Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-886-6443.
- 4:00-5:00pm Gan Ainm Céilí Band
http://cdbaby.com/cd/culchies
The Fortnightly Club :: 421 North 6th Street
Admission free until 5:30pm when the Bishops Ball begins. You must have a Bishops Ball ticket to remain inside the Fortnightly Club after 5:30PM.
Enjoy a traditional Irish Gaelic music session performed live by the Gan Ainm Ceili Band while you taste and judge the area’s best Fricassee recipe.
- 5:15pm French Mass at Old Cathedral
St. Francis Xavier Basilica :: 205 Church Street
- 5:30pm–10:00pm The Bishops Ball/Le Bal d'Évêques – “The Midwest’s Oldest Music Celebration”
The Fortnightly Club :: 421 North 6th Street
French Creole and Cajun music and dancing honoring the four French Catholic bishops of Vincennes: Bruté, de la Hailandiere, Bazin and de St. Palais.
Admission: $12 per person – includes two free dance lessons and two music sets
PLEASE NOTE: ONLY 250 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD
To purchase tickets in person: Visit the Vincennes CVB & Chamber of Commerce :: 102 North 3rd Street, or the Old Town Tavern :: 116 Main Street.
To purchase tickets by phone: Please call the Vincennes Chamber of Commerce to pay by credit card: 1-888-895-6622.
- 5:30-6:15pm First Cajun/Creole Dance lesson with JC Jones
- 6:15-7:15pm Paul Gregoire & Roux du Bayou
Traditional Cajun & Louisiana Creole music performance.
- 7:15-8:00pm Second Cajun/Creole Dance lesson with JC Jones
- 8:00-10:00pm Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp
Traditional French Creole music from Old Upper Louisiana (The Illinois Country)
Intermission: Mardi Gras King or Queen and Fricassee Cook-Off Winner Announcements.
Hold on to your ticket.
One lucky Bishops Ball attendee who discovers a miniature crown in his or her slice of Mardi Gras King Cake/Gâteau des Rois will be declared King or Queen of the Mardi Gras and win a two-night/three day vacation package in New Orleans where our King Cake was prepared.
FOOD FOR SALE: French Canadian Meat Pies (Tourtieres), Red Beans & Rice, BBQ Ribs, Chocolate Crepes, and Café du Monde Chicory Coffee.
BEER & FRENCH WINE available for purchase for those over 21.
Cajun/Creole Silent Auction throughout the afternoon and evening. All proceeds go towards developing Festival du Mardi Gras 2009.
Tuesday February 5th, 2008
- 4:30pm – 7:00pm French Pancake Supper
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church,
711 Main Street, St Francisville, IL
618/948-2229
End your 2008 Mardi Gras experience the same way that the Old French families of Vincennes and nearby St. Francisville, Illinois concluded each Carnival season by eating pancakes/crepes and maple syrup on the last night before Lent begins. The French Pancake Supper in St. Francisville is one the oldest continually held cultural traditions in Illinois – don’t miss it!
FESTIVAL DU MARDI GRAS 2008 ENDS
Au Revoir!
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