Cajun Classique is a five day wooden boat cruise down Bayou Teche, starting in Breaux Bridge and finishing at the Bayou Teche Wooden Boat Show, in association with the Bayou Teche Black Bear Festival in Franklin, Louisiana. This event is sponsored by the Southwest Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, in association with Bayou Teche Experience.The Southwest Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society is sponsoring.

Registration for classic wooden boat enthusiasts is now open. Deadline to register is March 15. Registration and details of the cruise route and daily excursions can be found at CajunClassique.com.

"We've done this cruise last year, and it was a stunning success not only for the participants but also the spectators along the route," said Cory Werk, tour director, local outfitter and advocate for the recreational use of Bayou Teche. "Where else can you cruise down the bayou and enjoy a taste of Cajun culture? This year the Cajun Classique will touch all four parishes of Bayou Teche, with overnight stays in Breaux Bridge, New Iberia and Franklin, La."  

South Louisiana has a long history of wooden boat building traditions. The "Cajun Classique" cruise down the oak-tree laden Bayou Teche will go through St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary parishes over seventy miles in two days. 

Time out will be taken to experience the local culture including its indigenous music and food. The Teche's historic and cultural significance will be highlighted. A remnant of the Mississippi River's waters of 5,000 years ago, the Teche has seen Civil War battles, has welcomed the first settlements of the Cajuns in 1765, and is home to the oldest operating lock and dam structure in the Mississippi Delta. Boaters will lock through this 100-year old structure.

Cultural excursions include visiting New Iberia, the hometown of Pulitzer Prize nominated author James Lee Burke who writes about the famed Detective Dave Robicheaux; Breaux Bridge, the Crawfish Capital of the World; plantation homes; rice mills; the world-famous Tabasco plant and Jungle Gardens; and a visit with a local Cajun boat builder may prove the highlight of all. 

Registration and details of the cruise route and daily excursions can be found at CajunClassique.com. For more information, contact Cory Werk, 337-366-0337, cory@cajunclassique.com.