We’re always celebrating something in SWLA. You’ll find a festival devoted to celebrating anything from pirate tales to crawfish tails.
There’s something for everyone at SWLA festivals. And fall is the festival season in SWLA; it’s when you’ll find the state’s biggest and most popular events.
Enjoy your fill of delicious Louisiana foods: gumbo, jambalaya, etoufee, world-class barbecue, German cuisine, and, of course, the carnival midway standbys: funnel cakes, corn dogs, hot dogs and burgers.
Browse the numerous booths offering unique arts and crafts. Find one-of-a-kind paintings, sculptures, jewelry and more. See demonstrations by local artisans — from sculptors to woodworkers to weavers. Go back in time to the Medieval period as knights joust for the love of their ladies; jesters perform in the aisles; and gentlemen and ladies in period costume walk the aisles with roasted turkey legs in hand. Catch the color, pageantry and excitement of a hot air balloon competition; then take a tethered ride in one. Watch historical reenactments.
Dance to the best Cajun, zydeco and swamp pop music you’ll hear anywhere. Play games of chance. Feel like a kid again as you take to the air on the biggest, baddest carnival rides. Here’s a quick run-down of some of the season’s biggest and best events to help you plan your fun-filled fall.
Arts and Crabs Fest
Aug. 15, 5-8 pm, Lake Charles Civic Center, 337-439-2787, artsandhumanitiesswla.org
This festival brings together the food, music and art of SWLA. Visitors can enjoy a crab and beer tasting that features dishes from area restaurants. The dishes will be paired with Louisiana craft beers. There will also be live music, art displays and cultural activities. Proceeds support the Arts Council’s programs and services.
Le Cajun French Music Awards Festival
Aug. 20-22, Rayne Civic Center, cajunfrenchmusic.org
The Cajun French Music Association sponsors this three-day event celebrating the rich history and importance of Cajun music in Southwest Louisiana.
The festival kicks off on Aug. 20 with a French speaking contest and chapter awards show in Breaux Bridge, and continues Aug. 21 with the Le Cajun Music Awards show at the Rayne Civic Center. Performing at the ceremony will be Jackie Caillier, Ivy Dugas and the Cajun Cousins. Doors open at 5:30 pm, and the ceremony begins at 7 pm. Admission is $7. Food will be served.
The dance festival on Saturday, Aug. 21, will include craft booths and Creole food. There’ll also, of course, be a full line-up of some of the best Cajun musicians around, including Jr. Hebert and the Maurice Playboys, Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys, the Huval Family Band, and Robert Jardell and Pure Cajun.
Admission to the festival on Saturday is $10. Kids 12 and younger are admitted free to all events.
Cameron Fishing Festival
Aug. 21-22, Cameron Jetty Pavilion, 799 Davis Road, Cameron, La.
The festival fishing competition will begin at 12:01 am on Aug. 21. The weigh station will open at 12 pm each day and close at 5 pm; festival gates will open at 5 pm Aug. 21 and at 10 am Aug. 22.
Also featured will be a blessing of the fleet; live and silent auctions; musical performances by Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, and Warren Storm & Willie Tee with Cypress Band; a queens pageant; a water slide; children’s activities and souvenirs; and fishing awards.
Gate fee is $7 Friday, $10 Saturday, or $15 for a two-day pass. Children 12 and younger enter free.
A Captain’s Night will take place Thursday, Aug. 13, 6-8 pm, at the Cameron Jetty Pavilion. Attendees will be able to purchase discounted Cameron Fishing Festival tickets, receive a complimentary fried catfish dinner, and have the chance to receive a door prize.
For more info, call 337-274-8501, 337-775-4649 or 337-775-5316.
Iowa Arts and Crafts Festival
Aug. 22, 9 am-2 pm, Iowa Community Center, Hwy. 90, Iowa, La., 337-721-7101
This event will include live music, a magic performance by magician David LeBouef, balloon art and clowns for the kids, a bagpipe performance, arts and crafts demonstrations, light refreshments, pony rides and displays. Admission is free.
Gueydan Duck Festival
Aug. 27-30, Duck Festival Park, Gueydan, duckfestival.org, info@DuckFestival.org
Gueydan is called the Duck Capital of America, and the town celebrates that rich tradition and heritage with a long weekend of activities, including carnival rides, parades, a family night with free admission, skeet shooting, duck decoy carving and painting demonstrations, duck and goose calling contests, dog trials, pageants (including a senior pageant) and an outdoor cook-off. There’ll also be plenty of live music; scheduled to appear are Nik L Beer, Richard LeBouef and Two Step, Aaron Istre and Under the Influence, Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, High Performance and Beau Young.
Fall Shadows On The Teche Arts and Crafts Festival
Aug. 28, 317 East Main St., New Iberia, La., 337-369-6446, shadowsontheteche.org
The festival will take place from 9 am to 4 pm, and will feature over ninety vendors displaying their art and crafts in the Shadows gardens. Paintings, jewelry, children’s clothing, cypress furniture, candles, wine and more will be available to buy.
Shrimp and Petroleum Festival
Sept. 3-7, downtown Morgan City, La., 985-385-0703, shrimpandpetroleum.org
The state’s oldest chartered harvest festival, this event celebrates the two major industries in South Louisiana with five days of activities and entertainment for the whole family.
Activities will include a carnival, a cultural heritage expo, a blessing of the fleet ceremony, a Mass, a fireworks show, a dessert contest, arts and crafts shows and sales, a golf tournament, a fishing tournament, a car show, a poker run, a 5K run/walk, a fireworks show and a children’s activity village.
Admission is free.
Mamou Cajun Music Festival
Sept. 4-5, Mamou, mamoucajunmusicfestival.com
Cajun food, live music, games and contests, and workshops on Cajun dance and fiddle making will be featured.
SWLA Zydeco Music Festival
Sept. 5, Zydeco Park, Plaisance Community of Opelousas, La., zydeco.org
This festival is the main event in a weeks-long celebration of zydeco music in Southwest Louisiana.
At the festival, you’ll find plenty of Creole food, arts and crafts booths, cultural and music workshops and, of course, some of the area’s best zydeco artists. This year’s music lineup features Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Lil’ Nate and the Zydeco Big Timers and Leon Chavis.
A pre-festival breakfast will be held 8:30-10:30 am in the courthouse square.
Boo Zoo’s Labor Day Festival
Sept. 7, 10 am-until, Lake Charles Civic Center, 337-438-3482
This festival honors the late zydeco musician Boo Zoo Chavis. The event will feature great Cajun food and live entertainment. Music will begin at 11 am.
Admission is $15 for adults, and $2 for children 12 and younger. No ice chests allowed.
St. Jude Fall Festival
Sept. 11-12, 352 Carter Ferry Rd., Zwolle, La., 318-315-0104, stjudefallfest@yahoo.com
A family-oriented event that will include a Walk of Hope, a parade, games, bingo, live music, lots of food, arts and crafts, a mud bog event and an auction.
Oldies But Goodies Festival and State Championship Barbecue Cookoff
Sept. 12-13, West Baton Rouge Tourist Information and Conference Center, N. Westport Dr., Port Allen, La., 800-654-9701, westbatonrouge.net
This fun weekend includes not only the state championship barbecue cookoff, but also live music, an antique car show, a poker run, jitterbug and twist contests, a Hula Hoop contest, food and beverage vendors, arts and crafts vendors, and more.
Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival
Sept. 18-19, Natchitoches, La., natchitoches.net
Carnival rides, vendors, live music, DJs, a meat pie eating contest, fun run and lots of great food, featuring, of course, the world-famous Natchitoches meat pie.
Allen Parish Fair
Sept. 16-19, Allen Parish Fairgrounds, Oberlin
This fair and festival offers music, livestock shows, a rodeo, carnival rides and food.
Marthaville Good Ole Days Festival
Sept. 18-19, Marthaville, La., explorenatchitoches.com
The town of Marthaville was settled in 1851, and incorporated in 1884 as a timber town. The town celebrates that long and rich history and heritage with a weekend of family fun including a parade, gospel singing, family reunions, a craft and toy trade area, food, kids’ activities, and plenty of live music, including a Nashville country music show.
St. Theresa Bon-Ton Festival
Sept. 18-20, St. Theresa Catholic Church, Carlyss, 337-496-7811, st-theresa-parish.org
Sponsored by St. Theresa Catholic Church, this local favorite features family entertainment in a wholesome atmosphere. You’ll find not only food, particularly barbecue, but also carnival rides, a petting zoo, a talent show, lawn mower pulls, a washer board tournament, a garage sale, a 5K run and kids’ run, an outdoor Mass, game booths, live music, a country store, live and silent auctions, and a sweet shop.
La Ville Uni Festival
Sept. 19, 808 Krause St., Westlake, La., 337-764-5462, mwcaldarera@gmail.com
Westlake’s first annual “La Ville Uni” (French for “The City United”) picnic will take place from 10 am-4 pm at Pinederosa Park.
The family friendly event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch, non-alcoholic beverages and lawn chairs. Concession booths will be available to purchase hot dogs, Frito pies, Kona Ice Snow Cones and soft drinks.
A dunking booth and games for all ages will be provided by community clubs and organizations. Local entertainers are invited to perform for the public. Westlake businesses will provide items for door prize drawings throughout the day.
This event is supported by a SWLA Convention and Visitors’ Bureau Tourism and Marketing Grant.
Pepper Festival
Sept. 19-20, St. Martinville
The annual fundraiser for the St. Martinville Kiwanis Club, this festival is held along the banks of the Bayou Teche in St. Martinville. It will offer live music, kids’ games and rides, arts and crafts displays and sales, a fun run, plenty of food, and a pepper eating contest.
Sabine Parish Fair
Sept. 23-27, Sabine Parish Fairgrounds, Many, La., 318-508-3161
Carnival rides, games, rodeos, arts and crafts, livestock shows, food and live music will be featured.
Bogalusa Blues and Heritage Fest
Sept. 25-26, Cassidy Park, Bogalusa
This event features a high school band parade; a kids’ zone with spacewalks, a climbing wall and train rides; a native American and pioneer museum; art and food vendors; a harmonica workshop for kids; and a lineup of some of the area’s best blues artists. Lineup includes Keb’ Mo’, Royal Southern Brotherhood, John Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Tinsley Ellis, Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, Mia Borders, Little Freddie King and more.
La. Sugar Cane Festival
Sept. 23-27, downtown New Iberia, hisugar.org
This annual festival honors the sugar cane producers and processors of the area, and the contribution of the sugar cane industry to the 23 sugar cane-producing parishes in the state. Activities will include carnival rides, live music, arts and crafts, an art show, food, a blessing of the crops, cooking contests, a kids’ day, a sugar cane exhibit, a car show, a pageant and more.
Alligator Festival
Sept. 27-30, West Bank Bridge Park, Luling, La. (St. Charles Parish), 985-785-9035, stcharlesrotary.com
Live music, carnival rides, alligator dishes and other Cajun cuisine, a golf tournament, a 5K run, children’s activities and crafts will be featured.
Jim Bowie Festival
Sept. 25-26, Vidalia Riverview RV Park and Resort, Vidalia, La., 318-336-8223, concordiachamberofcommerce.com
This event commemorates the 1827 duel that gave birth to the legend of Jim Bowie. In addition to a re-enactment of the infamous Sandbar Duel, there will be a barbecue contest, a pageant, kids’ rides, live bands, vendors and a street dance.
Ascension Hot Air Balloon Competition and Festival
Sept. 25-26, Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, Gonzales, La., ascensionballooning.com
This thrill-packed weekend combines a hot air balloon championship with a two-day festival complete with live music and carnival rides and games.
You can also enjoy a barbecue cookoff, arts and crafts booths, a car show, fireworks displays and tethered hot air balloon rides. There’ll also be a children’s village with face painting and a petting zoo. Admission is $2. Kids 12 and younger admitted free.
Best Of The Bayou Festival
Sept. 26-27, Downtown Houma, La., bestofthebayou.la/the-festival
The free, two-day festival will feature 21 national and local musical acts from genres including Cajun, zydeco, soul, funk and country. Also featured will be a car show and Cajun food. Headliners for this year’s event include Marc Broussard; Louisiana LeRoux, with Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie fame; The Revivalists; Grammy Award-winning Jo-El Sonnier; and others.
Calca-Chew Festival
Sept. 27, St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, Lake Charles, 337-439-4585, stmargaretcatholicchurch.com
This annual smorgasbord of Creole and Cajun cuisine features some of the best dishes from some of the area’s best Cajun cooks. St. Margaret parishioners will prepare such delights as shrimp etoufee, boudin, fried fish, cracklins, gumbo and barbecue.
Visitors can enjoy arts and crafts booths, live music, dancing, cake and pie judging, a raffle, live and silent auctions and door prizes. Children can enjoy a petting zoo, games and train rides.
The festival will begin with a 7 am Mass and continue through 3 pm. Admission is free.
Lecompte Pie Festival
Oct. 2-4, Lecompte, La., asliceoflouisiana.net
Held in the pie capital of the state, this festival offers rides, kids’ games, food booths, arts and crafts, a parade, a pageant and, of course, plenty of sweet, fruit-filled baked goods.
Denham Springs Antique District Fall Festival
Oct. 3, 9 am-5 pm, Antique District, Denham Springs, La., denhamspringsantiquedistrict.net
Denham Springs’ antique district comes alive with over 150 vendors selling unique items. Shop the district’s many antique stores. Take a break in one of the area’s restaurants, or grab something on the go from one of the many food vendors. Browse the festival’s art exhibits. Dance to the live music. Let the kids enjoy one of the many kiddie rides.
Robert’s Cove Germanfest
Oct. 3-4, St. Leo’s Catholic Church Grounds, Rayne, La., robertscovegermanfest.com
Providing clean, wholesome fun for the entire family, this annual festival honors the German heritage of Robert’s Cove. German music, a heritage museum, a home brew competition, gifts, a “kiddie land” with children’s activities, cultural demonstrations, folklore presentations and more will be featured.
And, of course, there’ll be plenty of German food on hand: sauerkraut with potato and wurst, German potato salad, sausage on a bun, brisket, dill pickles and more. Wash it all down with — what else? — a variety of beers.
Red River Revel Arts Festival
Oct. 3-10, Festival Plaza, Shreveport, La., redriverrevel.com
This eight-day festival will feature three stages of live music with a lineup that offers a wide variety of music. You’ll also find street performers, and a huge variety of food, including Cajun dishes, funnel cake and ice cream, Natchitoches meat pies and turkey legs.
Artists will be on hand displaying works in a variety of mediums, including oils and acrylics, metal, ceramics and watercolors. Other shows and demonstrations will include martial arts, ballet and gymnastics.
Shop the vendors for artwork, gourmet jams, soaps, candies and more. Children can enjoy fun and educational arts-related activities, such as face painting, ceramic painting, geologic digging and sand art.
Lighthouse Festival/Tour du Teche
Oct. 4/ Oct. 2-4, Berwick, La., 800-256-2931, tourduteche.com
The Tour du Teche is a 135-mile staged canoe and kayak race through the heart of Cajun Country, from Port Barre, La. to Berwick, La. On Oct. 3, paddlers stop in Franklin, La.
Meanwhile, Berwick will kick off its Lighthouse Festival featuring live music, food vendors and craft booths. The Tour du Teche will end amid the festival atmosphere in Berwick on Oct. 4. For more information on Tour du Teche, call 800-256-2931, visit tourduteche.com, or email info@tourduteche.com.
Angola Prison Fall Rodeo
Each Saturday In October (Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25), Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, La., (225) 655-2133 or 655-2607, angolarDEO.COM
Enjoy the usual rodeo events — bullriding, roping, barrel racing and bulldogging, as well as a wild horse race “convict poker,” wild cow milking, and a grand entry event.
There’ll also be plenty of food, including barbecue, grilled chicken, meat pies, baked potatoes, cotton candy, candy apples, funnel cakes, ice cream and much more. Arts and crafts, by penitentiary inmates, will also be sold.
Be sure to check out the website, as there are special requirements for entering an activity held in a penitentiary (expect belongings to be searched, for instance).
Beauregard Parish Fair
Oct. 6-10, DeRidder
A parade, pageant, carnival rides, food vendors, and arts and crafts will be featured.
Festivals Acadiens et Creoles
Oct. 6-11, downtown Lafayette & Girard Park, festivalsacadiens.com
Actually four festivals in one, this year’s celebration of Cajun culture and music will include some of the best Cajun food in the area, including boudin, catfish courtbouillion, meat pies and jambalaya. There’ll also be live entertainment featuring some of the state’s best zydeco and Cajun music, and arts and crafts exhibits and booths.
West Louisiana Forestry Festival
Oct. 7-11, Vernon Parish Fairgrounds, Leesville, 337-238-0647, 337-238-0324, vppjla.com/VernonParishFairgrounds
This festival features 4-H horse and livestock shows, pageants, woodsmen’s skills contests, a rodeo, carnival rides and food vendors.
Zwolle Tamale Fiesta
Oct. 9-10, Zwolle Festival Grounds, Zwolle, La., (318) 256-3523, zwolletamalefiesta.com
Though Zwolle, just south of Shreveport, is named after a Dutch town, it has a rich Spanish and Mexican heritage, having been part of Texas under Mexican rule during the early 19th Century.
This annual festival celebrates that heritage with a weekend of fun, music and food, including live music, street dance, arts and crafts, carnival rides, concessions, a pageant, a Spanish costume contest, an arm wrestling contest, eating contests, a tamale making contest, a fun run and group dance performances.
La. Cattle Festival and Fair
Oct. 9-11, Abbeville, La., louisianacattlefestival.org
Children’s activities, cooking contests, livestock competitions and exhibits, pageants (including a baby pageant), music, rides, vendors and food will be featured.
Bridge City, La., Gumbo Festival
Oct. 9-11, Gumbo Festival Park, Angel Square, Bridge City, La. (near Westwego), 504-436-4881, bridgecitygumbofestival.org
The food offerings will feature, of course, seafood and chicken-and-sausage gumbo, as well as other Cajun favorites, such as jambalaya. But attendees will also find the old carnival standbys like hamburgers, hot dogs and funnel cakes. There’ll be live music and a fais-do-do, a pageant, craft vendors and a gumbo cooking contest. Admission is $3. Carnival ride day passes available for $25.
La. Gumbo Festival
Oct. 9-11, Chackbay, La., lagumbofest.com
Plenty of great Cajun food, carnival rides, a 5K, a pageant, a parade, a live auction, a raffle and live entertainment will be featured. Music lineup includes Velvet Sky, Trigger Proof, Tet Dur, Foret Tradition, Good Feelings, Drunk Punch Ponies, Doug Stone, Mule Kick, Johnny Chauvin and the Mojo Band and Junior LaCrosse.
Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival
Oct. 10-11, Lake Pontchartrain Maritime Museum, on the Tchefuncte River, Madisonville, 985-845-9200, woodenboatfest.org
This event is the annual fundraiser for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum. It features food, entertainment, art, music, arts and crafts, and a children’s village with games and performances.
The popular Quick and Dirty Boat Building Contest will be offered again this year. Teams will struggle to build seaworthy craft from the materials they are provided. The event culminates in a race of the craft.
A free shuttle between the museum and the Water Street site on the river will be provided.
Cal-Cam Fair
Oct. 14-18, West Cal Arena
This old-fashioned country fair will feature livestock competitions, food booths, pageants, carnival rides, live entertainment, wildlife exhibits, baked and canned goods competitions and more.
International Rice Festival
Oct. 15-18, downtown Crowley, ricefestival.com
This is a family-friendly celebration of Cajun heritage, culture and food. There will be carnival rides, arts and crafts, fiddle and accordion contests, a rice eating contest, a poker run, a classic car show, a 5K run/walk, a senior citizens ball, cooking contests, a frog derby, a rice grading contest and more.
Music will be featured on two stages. Scheduled to appear are Charley Rivers, Kira Viator Weber and Bayou Beat, Wayne Toups and Zydecajun, Nik L Beer, Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, Bag of Donuts, Chee Weez, Kip Sonnier, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Daryl Singletary, Blaine Roy, and Lil’ Wayne and Same Ol’ 2-Step.
Andouille Festival
Oct. 16-18, St. John Center, Laplace, La., andouillefestival.com
This festival celebrates the best-tasting andouille sausage in the world with cooking contests using andouille in gumbo, jambalaya and miscellaneous categories. Carnival rides, games, kids’ activities (including a kids’ art tent), a fun run, and plenty of live music will also be featured.
La. Cotton Festival
Oct. 20-25, North Side Civic Center, Ville Platte, La., louisianacottonfestival.com
Festivalgoers can enjoy authentic Acadian music and food, a pet show, a beer booth, a farmer’s market, a flower display, a carnival, a fais-do-do, a harvest Mass, a pageant and a parade. The festival is capped off by the running of the ancient jousting game known as Le Tournoi.
French Food Festival
Oct. 22-25, Larose Civic Center, Larose, La., bayoucivicclub.org
Sample some of the best Cajun food around, dance to some of the best live music and enjoy carnival rides and numerous activities for the whole family.
Chennault International Air Show
Oct. 24-25, Chennault International Airport, Lake Charles, La., 337-491-9961, chennaultairshow.com
Two shows will be held Saturday and Sunday. Gates open at 9 am and close at 5 pm; performer schedule TBA. Featured performers will include, U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds, U.S. Army Golden Knights, Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, Tinstix “The Immortals” Pyrotechnic Performance, Pemberton Aerosports Aerobatics & Skydiving and others. Note: See website for security restrictions.
Yellow Leaf Arts Festival
Oct. 24-25, 10 am-5 pm, Parker Park, St. Francisville, La., stfrancisvillefestivals.com
Stroll through the booths at this small, charming festival, and you’ll find over 55 local artists and artisans selling authentic and unique works, from sculpture to wood pieces to metal sculptures, and much more. No factory-produced art items here; all works are authentic.
You can also enjoy live music and local foods (including locally grown sweet potatoes baked in pies, muffins and cakes). There’ll also be a kids’ art activity zone.
Rougarou Festival
Oct. 24-25, downtown Houma, La., rougaroufest.org
Celebrate Halloween in the spooky but family-friendly atmosphere of the Rougarou Festival. The festival, the primary fundraiser for the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, will include a haunted house, a costume contest, the Rougarou Run, and the Krewe de Ga Rou parade. There’ll also be plenty of food, games and live music, including the Louisiana Roadhouse Band, AYO, Brother Sky, Right Lane Bandits, the South Louisiana Community Orchestra and Jenna Guidry.
Black Pot Festival and Cookoff
Oct. 30-31. Acadian Village, Lafayette, La., blackpotfestival.com
Enjoy a weekend of old-fashioned fun, including square dancing, an accordion contest, and lots of live music — everything from Creole and zydeco to bluegrass.
The highlight of the festival, though, will be the black pot (cast iron pot) cookoff, with categories such as cracklins, “sauce” or gravy, jambalaya, gumbo and desserts.
There will be ample tent and RV camping space.
Walker Pine Tree Festival
Oct. 30-Nov. 1, Walker High School, Walker, La.
Located just east of Denham Springs along the I-12 corridor, the town of Walker celebrates the ubiquitous evergreen with a weekend of carnival rides, food, crafts and games.
Harvest Moon Festival
Oct. 31, Main Street, downtown Franklin, La., cajuncoast.com
Welcome fall with all-day festivities, from 9 am-5 pm, on Main Street in downtown Franklin, La. The festival will feature live music, children’s activities, a classic car and motorcycle show, a 5K run/walk, a barbecue cookoff, concessions and special retail promotions. For more info, call 337-828-6326, 800-256-2931, or visit cajuncoast.com/harvestmoonfest
Port Barre Cracklin’ Festival
Nov. 5-8, Port Barre, La., portbarrecracklinfestival.com
Sponsored by the Port Barre Lion’s Club, this festival offers a carnival, a parade, plenty of great food, a pageant, and a cracklin cookoff.
There’s also dancing and plenty of live music, with performances by Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys, Lil’ Kenny and the Heartbreakers, Chris Ardoin and Nustep Zydeco, Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns, Wallace Trahan and Rice and Gravy, John Conlee, and Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition.
Louisiana Swine Festival
Nov. 6-8, West Basile Town Park, Basile, La., evangelinetourism.com
This festival features carnival rides, kids’ games, live music, a greased pig contest, a hog calling contest, and lots of food, including pork prepared in any way you can imagine.
Abbeville Giant Omelet Celebration
Nov. 7-8, Magdalene Square, downtown Abbeville, giantomelette.org
According to legend, when Napoleon and his army were traveling through the south of France, they decided to rest for the night near the town of Bessieres. Napoleon feasted on an omelet prepared by a local innkeeper. It was such a culinary delight that he ordered the townspeople to gather all the eggs in the village and to prepare a huge omelet for his army the next day. From this beginning, the community omelet became a tradition to feed the poor of the village at Easter, and the town of Bessiers, France, still celebrates the holiday each year with a community omelet.
Abbeville celebrates that tradition with a weekend of music, arts and crafts, a gallery, home tours, food vendors and more. Of course, you won’t want to miss the highlight: the procession of chefs to the cooking area, where the community omelet is prepared and served with French bread.
Louisiana Renaissance Festival
Nov. 7-Dec. 13 (weekends). Robert, La. (east of Hammond), la-renfest.com
This is an all-out Medieval pageant, a cross between a theme park and a festival. There will be more than 100 places to shop, and more than a dozen stages will offer entertainment — over 50 shows, including swordfighting and jousting tournaments; juggling; music demonstrations (including dulcimer, lute and bagpipes); blacksmithing demonstrations; puppet shows; falconry shows and kids’ shows. There will also be a “living history” center, a wine and whiskey tasting; and Celtic music. The festival is held rain or shine.
Atchafalaya Basin Festival
Nov. 14, Henderson, La., atchafalayabasinfestival.com
This festival, a fundraiser for Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Henderson, celebrates the Cajun lifestyle and the 860-acre Atchafalaya River Basin, the area where “the land meets the swamp.” Features will include plenty of food; live music; a raffle; live and silent auctions; fun jumps and rides; and a car, truck and motorcycle show.
Music lineup includes Sweet Cecilia, Geno Delafose, Hunter Courville and Cajun Fever, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Louisiana Red, and Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns.
Thibodauxville Fall Festival
Nov. 14, 8 am-5 pm, downtown Thibodaux, La., thibodauxchamber.com
There will be arts and crafts vendors, food, continuous live music on several stages, a car show, and a “duck race” in Bayou Lafourche.
Comments are closed.