Lafayette, LA – What began as a festive initiative to unite the community of New Iberia has ended in vandalism. The second annual New Iberia Advent Activities Calendar, which offered 21 days of free family events leading up to Christmas Eve, was found severely damaged at Bouligny Plaza on Friday, January 3, 2025.
Teresa Courtois, the event organizer, had planned to take down the calendar that evening, but unfortunately, she was one day too late. In a social media post, Courtois shared a picture of the calendar, showing signs of being torn apart and ransacked. While she described the damage as “minor,” the impact was still felt deeply by the community.
Despite the relatively small scale of the damage, Courtois expressed her frustration and sadness. “Even though the damage to our tree is minor, that doesn’t make it any less sad or frustrating,” she said in an interview with KATC. The calendar was designed to bring families together during the Christmas season, and its destruction was a setback for the initiative.
Captain Leland Laseter of the New Iberia Police Department confirmed that an investigation was underway. Authorities are attempting to locate surveillance footage from the area to identify any potential suspects.
In an outpouring of support, Nichole Segura, owner of Millside Market, stepped forward to assist with the repairs. Segura, along with other local businesses, had donated time, money, and resources to make the Advent calendar a reality. “This is not a good representation of Iberia Parish,” Segura said, emphasizing the community’s commitment to supporting positive events. “We wanted to give back by replacing the calendar and showing that we stand together.”
Segura’s donation will go toward either repairing the existing calendar or replacing it entirely, though plans are still being finalized. The local community’s collective response highlights the resilience of small-town neighborhoods, where residents often come together in times of adversity.
Courtois expressed her gratitude for Segura’s generosity and the ongoing support from local businesses. “I’m so grateful to them for eagerly jumping in to help make this right for our event,” she said. “It is our local business owners that make such a large imprint on our community when they team up with our citizens.”
In her statement, Courtois reflected on the spirit of small-town unity that makes New Iberia unique. “Despite the amount of crime that happens in all parts of the world, my favorite thing about small towns is how the tight-knit community members step up to counteract and turn the negative into a positive,” she said. “I am forever grateful for so many in New Iberia who have the same resolution that I have—we won’t quit working to show what wonderful things our city has.”
As the community works to repair or replace the damaged Advent calendar, the spirit of togetherness and generosity continues to shine through, reinforcing the sense of pride and resilience that defines New Iberia.