New Orleans Saints to Honor
International Acadian Festival Queen
Prior to season-finale vs. Carolina Panthers

The New Orleans Saints will honor the International Acadian Festival Queen Leigh Ann Kirkland at the club’s regular season finale vs. the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 29 in a pre-game ceremony on-field at the Superdome. Ms. Kirkland will be honored along with other Louisiana festival queens who will be appearing in Washington D.C. as part of a Mardi Gras celebration. The queens will be dressed in their full royal regalia to be escorted by a local legislator during the ceremony. The event will occur at approximately 11:40 a.m.

 Festivals confirmed to participate include: Cal-Cam Festival, Camellia Festival, Catfish Festival, Cotton Festival, Crawfish Festival, Creole Gumbo Festival, Duck Festival, French Food Festival, Rayne Frog Festival, Fur and Wildlife Festival, Holiday in Dixie Festival, International Acadian Festival, International Rice Festival, Jambalaya Festival, Le Cajun Festival, LA Farm Bureau Festival, Mardi Gras of SW Louisiana, Orange Festival, Paper Festival, Patterson Sawmill Cypress Festival, Peach Festival, Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, Shrimp Festival, Strawberry Festival, Sugar Cane Festival, Troubadours, and the Yambilee Festival. Also participating in the pre-game gala is Miss Louisiana and Miss Teen Louisiana.

 “We are extremely pleased and excited to have such a wide representation of festival queens from all over the state of Louisiana for the second consecutive year,” said Saints Director of Regional Sales and Marketing Mike Feder. “These young ladies exemplify this time-honored tradition and we are eager to honor them.”

 Discounted $50 packages that include a game ticket, food, and drink (normally $73) to the Saints-Panthers game are available with a portion of the proceeds going to the Queen’s charity of choice. These discounted packages will be offered until noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact Clark Beacom at (504) 729-5530.