On May 12, 1977, the trademark bearing the title “Gueydan, LA.- Duck Capital of America” was recorded and validated with the Secretary of State in Baton Rouge upon the actions of the Les Dames de Gueydan, a local women’s club. A few months following this, the Gueydan Jaycees promoted the trade name by organizing a group of interested citizens to form what is now called the Gueydan Duck Festival Association.
The Festival is usually held the last full weekend in August. Since it does highlight the hunting heritage of the Acadiana region, the Duck Festival offers the public great entertainment with its Duck and Goose Calling Contest, Skeet Shooting, Dog Trials, Duck Dash, and Decoy Carving.
This is in addition to great food, nightly bands, Junior and Senior Queens pageants, a Grand Parade, Outdoor and Indoor Cooking Contest, and to top it all off, a thriling Carnival.
As with any event in Cajun Country, the Gueydan Duck Festival gives everyone an excuse to meet old friends and make new ones. This “joie de vivre” ensures that a great time is had by one and all! “Laissez les bon temps rouler… Let the good times roll!!”
From 2021 Festival :
Road Trip to Gueydan, ,Louisiana :
about 2 hours away in the heart of Cajun Country. Gueydan (local pronunciation [ge(ɪ)dɔ̃]) is a town in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, United States.
Established in the late 1800’s on “worthless, marshy” lands, Gueydan has become internationally known for waterfowl. Locally owned clubs provide guides and lodging for a memorable hunt on this major north/south flyway while the town, itself, is a bird sanctuary. Northwest of town, tour Stansel Rice Company, a working gourmet popcorn rice mill with crawfish ponds. The Gueydan Museum, located in the old Gueydan Bank building c. 1902, houses a permanent collection of rare photographs and artifacts from Gueydan’s early days as well as changing art exhibits. If you like biking, a nice trail is Hwy 91 south. You’ll pass the local cemetery. To the right is the location of the former Gueydan family plantation. Continue south and take in the sights of nature. Fox, purple gallinule, least bittern herons and little gray herons can all be sighted here. To your right is marshlands once drained for sale. The Florence Club, built as the office of the White Lake Land Company on the site of a proposed town of the same name, is now a private residence at the end of the ride.
Lisa s Everyday Life 