Les Mains Guidees Workshop -- Santons de Provence CANCELLED
2023-12-02 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Vermilionville – Cooking School
Vermilionville is proud to have Kate Ferry return for another Les Mains Guidées Saturday, December 2 making Les Santons de Provence, traditional clay figurines that the Provençal make to place in the Christmas Crèche. This was so much fun last year, we made Santons of the traditional figures, but also some familiar Vermilionville characters, like Louie the Cat and Mr. October, Brady McKellar. Make plans to come!
Kate Ferry is a well-known area artist, designer and illustrator who has made a career of doing award-winning work for Louisiana agencies and clients, while also producing her own works including murals, paintings and other artworks.
The crib is composed of figures called “santons” which formed French villages some centuries ago, the shepherd, the drummer, the village idiot and many others. The first Christmas crib known in France was set up in 1775 in Marseille. Nowadays they are set up around the end of November, or beginning of December and dismantled after Epiphany when the Three Kings join the other figures. The origin of the word “santon” is the Provencal noun “santoun” which means little saint. Santons are traditionally hand made of clay and painted by artisans, and you can have that same experience at our workshop. We will be making Santons with Sculpey, which will then be fired and painted, and placed in the crèche.
Some of the figures we will be making: The Newborn Jesus, Virgin Mary, Father Joseph, donkey, sheep, Three Kings, angels, along with some more familiar Vermilionville figures including The Seamstress/Weaver, The Tribal Chief, The Woodcarver, The Trapper, The Cook, The Breadmaker, The Blacksmith, The Musicians (Fiddler, Accordion Player, Rubboard Player), The Basketmaker, The Quiltmaker, The Storyteller, The Boatbuilder, and more. Each workshop attendee can expect to make and paint at least two or three figurines, to take home or to leave as part of the Vermilionville crèche over the holidays.
The workshop will be held Saturday, December 2, 10 AM – 3 PM, with all supplies and tools provided. Fee $55, tickets available below. There will be a break from 12 noon-1:30 PM in order to fire the figurines.

First Friday French Table
2024-04-05 08:30 - 09:30 | Bayou Vermilion, 300 Fisher Road, Lafayette, 70506, United States
Friday, April 5 join us in La Cuisine de Maman for the First Friday French Table, a FREE, fun and casual way to learn and practice your French!

Beginning Birding with Brady
2025-02-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Vermilionville – Performance Center
Bayou Vermilion District presents Beginning Birding with Brady, February 15 at 10 AM. Our resident birder Brady McKellar will lead this session, designed to introduce interested people to birding. (No experience necessary!) Learn about the Great Backyard Bird Count, the basics of bird identification, apps that are helpful for bird identification and more.There will be a birding walk from Vermilionville to Beaver Park and back, where you may see Eastern Bluebirds, Crows, Northern Cardinals, Chickadees, Redwing Blackbirds, Great Egrets, Anhingas and more species in our area.Please bring your binoculars if you have them, (BVD will have a few extras to share) wear comfy shoes, sunscreen and a hat if you’d like. The session is $10, which includes a self-guided tour of our historic village.

Homeschoolers Learn to Cajun Waltz
2025-10-02 10:45 - 11:45
Homeschoolers — Join us for a fun introduction to the Cajun Waltz! Learn the simple steps, enjoy the music, and experience a fun part of the Cajun culture together with other homeschooling friends!
Ages 7+ for dance lessons, younger siblings cannot participate in dance lessons but are welcome to spend time in the village. ALL children must have a chaperone with them whether in the village or at dance lessons.

Les Mains Guidées: Wax Flower Couronne
2025-10-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Bayou Vermilion, 300 Fisher Road, Lafayette, 70506, United States
As part of its mission for the preservation of traditional trades and folkcrafts, Vermilionville continues to host monthly workshops allowing our community to learn a craft from the Acadian, Creole and Native American traditions. Topics range from woodcarving to foodways (and many things in between).

For the October Les Mains Guidées, Ivy Broussard – one of our highly experienced craft artisans – will share the methods used for designing and building a wax flower couronne, traditionally used for the decorating of graves for All Saints Day. Guests will learn to form the delicate flowers from paper and wire, how to dip them to preserve the shape, and how to bring these together to form the traditional wreath. During this workshop, Ivy will also share some of the other elements of mourning and All Saints traditions in history.

You can register below and purchase tickets for $30, all needed materials and supplies included!

Hands-On Beignet Making Demo
2025-11-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Vermilionville – Cooking School
Come experience heritage cooking at its finest, with our Hands-On Beignet Making Demo. Join our food historian and beignet-maker supreme, Jay Steiner as we create delicious beignets in the Vermilionville Cooking School. Tickets include admission into the village, hands-on beignet making demo with toppings bar and refreshments. Minimum age 5 years, Tickets available: 20.
Please register here: https://forms.gle/UJ5VBhkmacQeLBp6A before purchasing tickets below.

Stories, Dance & Weaving Homeschool Program
2025-11-19 13:30 - 15:00 | Vermilionville, 300 Fisher Road, Lafayette, LA, 70508, United States
Homeschoolers — celebrate Native American Culture November 19 at Vermilionville — this special program includes a self-guided tour of our historic village, along with storytelling, snake dance lessons, basket weaving crafts and a gift from our gift shop, La Boutique at Vermilionville! Minimum age 3-older, Tickets available: 35. Please register here: https://forms.gle/tyHhvFnyYnCzQP339 and buy your tickets below.
