Tag: Festival Season

Springtime in Louisiana: A Festival Season Map for Everyone

Every spring, Louisiana becomes a vibrant celebration of culture, music, food, and quirky traditions during what we like to call festival season. As winter fades and Mardi Gras wraps up, the state dives headfirst into festival season. Weekends — and even the occasional weekday — overflow with celebrations highlighting everything from French heritage and Cajun cuisine to jazz rhythms and literary traditions. According to this article from Explore Louisiana, the state rightfully holds the nickname “Festival Capital of the World,” with over 400 festivals taking place annually. But in springtime, that title truly comes alive with unmatched energy.

In Lafayette, festival season is kicked off with the internationally-acclaimed Festival International de Louisiane takes over downtown with a free, outdoor celebration of the region’s French roots. Local musicians share the stage with performers from Europe, Africa, Canada, and the Caribbean, giving the festival a global flair. Visitors meander through Marché des Arts, a juried fine arts market filled with artists from around the country, and explore Marché du Monde, an international marketplace packed with jewelry, photography, sculpture, and unique finds.

Over in New Iberia, literature and Cajun identity intertwine at the Books Along The Teche Literary Festival, which honors author James Lee Burke and his iconic fictional detective, Dave Robicheaux. Guests immerse themselves in local culture through poetry readings, storytelling events, food tastings, and guided tours — by both bus and boat — that bring to life the author’s richly described landscapes.

In Krotz Springs, the Sportsmen’s Heritage Festival highlights Louisiana’s natural and cultural traditions. Visitors sample wild game during a cooking competition, dance to Cajun, swamp pop, and zydeco music, and enjoy carnival rides and games that entertain all ages.

In the town of Rayne, the celebration takes a whimsical turn with the Rayne Frog Festival, which leans into the town’s nickname as the “Frog Capital of the World.” The event features frog-themed music, games, and family-friendly fun. Not far away, in Lake Charles, pirate lovers gather for the Louisiana Pirate Festival, a lively tribute to the legendary pirate Jean Lafitte. With swashbuckling flair, the festival offers games, food, contests, and music all in a high-seas atmosphere.

Music lovers flock to the state’s spring lineup of legendary concerts. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, arguably Louisiana’s most iconic spring event, spans seven days and brings together global performers from jazz, gospel, rock, R&B, and beyond. The French Quarter Festival also makes waves, with 22 stages and more than 400 hours of live music filling the historic streets of the Vieux Carré.

Beyond New Orleans, the Baton Rouge Blues Festival celebrates Louisiana’s deep contributions to blues, particularly the swamp blues style native to the region. In Natchitoches, the Natchitoches Jazz / R&B Festival delivers a rich mix of genres — from zydeco and soul to rock ’n’ roll — all set along the scenic Cane River.

Naturally, spring festivals in Louisiana wouldn’t be complete without a hearty helping of local flavor. In Ponchatoula, ripe, juicy berries take center stage at the Strawberry Festival, while in Ruston, the Peach Festival pays tribute to the season’s sweetest fruit. Both festivals combine fresh fruit tastings with rides, games, and cherished community traditions.

Culinary festivals also shine this time of year. In Arnaudville, the Étouffée Festival celebrates the beloved dish of smothered seafood over rice. Gonzales, dubbed the “Jambalaya Capital of the World,” hosts the Jambalaya Festival, where the savory, rice-based dish draws crowds of hungry attendees. In Scott, festival-goers sample boudin, a spiced sausage made with pork and rice, at the heart of the Scott Boudin Festival.

For seafood fans, there’s no shortage of delights. The Amite Oyster Festival serves up the briny favorite, while crawfish festivals pop up all over the state. Whether it’s boiled, fried, or tucked into an étouffée, crawfish reigns as the undisputed king of springtime cuisine in Louisiana.

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Walker, LA Recently Held its Inaugural Spring Festival

After a particularly harrowing year in terms of live performances, concerts, and large gatherings, the City of Walker, Louisiana is gaining a new celebration with its inaugural Spring Festival that aims to become an annual tradition, according to BRProud.

What’s being called Walker’s first annual Spring Fest consisted of a three-day, family-friendly event on Sidney Hutchinson Park’s 100 acres. It was held on Friday, April 23rd from 5-10 pm, Saturday, April 24th from 12-10 pm, and Sunday, April 25th from 12-7 pm.

The Livingston Parish festival aimed to have families and the general surrounding community come together to experience a truly impressive offering of events, attractions, and culture, all of which were seen as all-too-needed these days, according to the city of Walker’s community outreach coordinator, Sandi McGrew, who said, “it’s the first festival that we’re having. The mayor (Jimmy Watson) really has a vision to bring more people into the park and do more things for the community, especially after everybody’s been at home for the last year.”

McGrew also expressed her hope for this family-orientated event to be seen by the public as a community event to gather around, especially after the trying year endured by the coronavirus pandemic that pushed communities apart from one another. Spring Fest implemented the state of Louisiana’s latest safety guidelines in an effort to not let this first annual festival be its last.

In fact, a recent Advocate Article commented on the inaugural Spring Fest by stating, “ It will be a busy weekend and a sign that residents are ready to get out of their houses. But festival organizers are encouraging safety with masks and social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.”

Outside of providing Livingston parish with a three-day event that they can look forward to, Spring Fest featured live musical performances by Clifton Brown and the Rusty Bucket Band (Friday), the Eddie Smith Band with Floyd Crown and Kenny Cornett (Saturday), and student performances from Overtones Music (Sunday).

In addition to the impressive musical acts, the festival also included nearly a dozen fair rides such as a Ferris Wheel, as well as, local vendors selling their specialties and the notorious staples of “Fair Food” on site. Additionally, both a local farmer’s market and a car show were featured on the festival grounds on Saturday, April 24th, arguably the park’s biggest day.

Outside of its attention-grabbing music lineup and features, the city of Walker had a wholesome, ulterior motive when selecting Sidney Hutchinson Park as the festival’s location. Both McGrew and Mayor Watson wanted the public to see for themselves all of the natural hallmarks available to them, such as the walking trail and various fishing ponds. With this being the inaugural event, it’s a chance to show local residents what can come in the future alongside hefty community support and goodwill. Festival participants got an inside look at Sidney Hutchinson Park’s soon-to-be-completed outdoor exercise equipment and all-inclusive playground. Spring Fest’s admission and musical performances will be free to all who enter, but rides, fair games, concessions, and Saturday’s farmers market were note.

In an effort to keep Louisiana residents informed about live events, safety, and all things music, “97.3 The Dawg” has released a rundown on the 2021 Louisiana Festivals that are still ready to open. Among those listed, such as the NOLA Crawfish Festival, Sunset Herb and Garden Festival, Mid City Bayou Boogaloo, and Kite Fest Louisiane, special attention was paid to announce Spring Festival as Walker’s first, and hopefully, there will be many more to come in the years ahead.

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