Landing of d'Iberville

Landing of d'Iberville

Last weekend in April

This event is a commemoration of the landing in 1699 of Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville at a spot on Biloxi Bay that is now Ocean Springs, Miss. The arrival of d'Iberville and 200 colonists established the Louisiana Colony for King Louis XIV of France; the territory stretched from the Appalachians to the Rocky Mountains and from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. D'Iberville built Fort Maurepas here, the first significant structure erected by Europeans on the Gulf Coast.
A replica of the fort is the backdrop for the reenactment of the landing. This pageant boasts a costumed cast representing both the notables of d'Iberville's fleet as well as the welcoming Biloxi Indians. The part of d'Iberville is always played by a celebrity, usually from the political world. However, in 1984, Col. Stuart A. Roosa, an Apollo 14 astronaut, played the explorer. In the reenactment, d'Iberville with his officers debarks and wades ashore, plants a cross in the sand, and claims the land for Louis XIV. The Indians, at first wary, invite the French to their village to smoke a peace pipe. The reenactment was first staged in 1939.
The celebration begins on Friday night with a covered dish supper at the civic center. On Saturday night, there is a formal-dress historic ball and pageant, with the presentation of d'Iberville, his officers, and the Cassette Girls. These were young orphan women who had been taught by Catholic nuns in Paris; they made the long trip to the Gulf Coast to become the brides of the men settled in the territory. They were called Cassette Girls because of the cases each carried that contained their trousseaus. The reenactment takes place on Sunday and is followed by a grand parade. There are also exhibits and street and food fairs.

CONTACTS:
Ocean Springs Chamber Mainstreet Visitors Center
1000 Washington Ave.
P.O. Box 187
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
228-875-4424; fax: 228-875-0332
www.oceanspringschamber.com

Celebration days:
2011: Apr 30; May 1
2012: Apr 28; Apr 29
2013: Apr 27; Apr 28
2014: Apr 26; Apr 27
2015: Apr 25; Apr 26