Around Acadiana for Oct. 23, 2012

The Down Syndrome Association of Acadiana will hold its Buddy Walk on Saturday in downtown Lafayette.

Registration is at 9 a.m. at Parc International, 200 Garfield St. and the 1-mile walk begins at 9:45 a.m. A family-friendly “Fun in the Parc” event with games, food and live music by Damon Troy & Final Five follows the walk.

For more information, call [phone].

Small business seminar

A free workshop for small businesses to learn how to secure federal grant funding begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise Center.

The seminar will focus on funding available through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer grant programs.

The event is sponsored by the LITE Center in collaboration with the Louisiana Small Business Development Center and the Louisiana Technology Transfer Office.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required due to limited space.

To register or for more information, visit: http://www.lite3d.com/news-events.

Trick-or-treat carnival

Vermilionville will hold its Boo Bayou fall carnival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday with traditional games, a costume contest and trick-or-treating throughout the historic Acadian village.

The event also features entertainment by Louisiana Performance Center and Renaissance Cadienne.

Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for students 18 and under and free for children ages 3 and under.

‘Beneath the Balconies’

New Iberia Beneath the Balconies, an event celebrating 200 years of history, theater and culture in Louisiana, will be held from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Main Street in New Iberia.

The event features live theatrical performances under the balconies of several downtown locations along Main Street.

A second-line parade will begin at the Shadows on the Teche, 317 Main St., and continue down the street. Limited seating is available for performances, but lawn chairs are suggested. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

The event is presented by the Iberia Preservation Alliance and New Iberia Main Street program.

Fall Fun Fest Sunday

The Lafayette Parks and Recreation Department will hold its annual Fall Fun Fest from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday at Girard Park.

The family-friendly event features games and costumes are encouraged.

For more information, call [phone].

Safe driving classes

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office will offer an AARP driver safety class for drivers 50 years of age and older from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 1.

The class will be held at the St. Martin Parish Fire Training Center, 1035 A. Ruth Bridge Highway, Breaux Bridge.

The cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members. Veterans and their spouses may attend the session for free.

For more information, call [phone].

Submit items to Acadiana bureau chief Richard Burgess at [e-mail] or by fax to [phone].