Submitted by
Monticello-Jefferson County
Chamber of Commerce
The honorary title of Parade Grand Marshal is granted to a resident of Jefferson County who exhibits exceptional leadership, community service, civic involvement and public service. Each year, The Watermelon Festival Committee conducts an open call for nominations for individuals who exhibit these qualities. The Watermelon Festival Committee is proud to recognize Michele Arceneaux as the 2023 Watermelon Festival Grand Marshal.
Arceneaux is extremely active and involved in Jefferson County since making her home here ten years ago. Since then, she has used her talents to promote and improve Jefferson County, provide philanthropy and enrich the downtown Monticello experience.
Arceneaux's official roles include serving as a current board member and past president of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, member and President Elect for the local Kiwanis Club, board member for the Jefferson County Tourism Development Council and member of the City of Monticello Local Planning Agency. She also served as past president of Monticello Main Street, where she created and organized the Big Spring Clean Up, an event to beautify our downtown area. She also organized a facelift for the Old Jail which saw the installation of a historically appropriate sign and new landscaping. She also demonstrates a knack for organizing parades, serving as the Watermelon Festival Parade Chairperson in 2020 and 2021 and also the Monticello Christmas Festival Light Parade Chairperson for the past five years. Most notably, her talents have helped grow the Monticello Christmas Festival to the massive success it is today.
In addition to these numerous contributions, Arceneaux is also very involved in historic preservation. She and her husband brought several historic buildings in the downtown area back to life as well as their historic home in Drifton. They have welcomed the Aucilla Research Institute and local high school students to their home to conduct historic research. Jefferson County High School has conducted several field trips to their property to conduct archeological digs, allowing students to learn about the early history of our county through hands-on excavation and artifact finding.
The Watermelon Festival Committee is grateful to Michele Arceneaux for her efforts to support, promote and enrich Jefferson County. We are excited to announce her as this year’s Watermelon Festival Grand Marshal.