Tag: Louisiana festivals

From Zydeco to Gumbo: Lafayette Honors Its Roots with Festival

The heart of Acadiana came alive recently as Festival Acadiens et Créoles returned to Girard Park in Lafayette for its 51st annual celebration. According to this article from The Daily Advertiser, from October 10 through October 12, the park pulsed with the sounds of fiddles, accordions, and washboards echoing across the oaks. Thousands gathered to honor Louisiana’s living Cajun and Creole traditions through music, food, art, and fellowship—continuing one of the state’s most cherished festivals.

What began in 1974 as a grassroots effort to preserve Cajun and Creole music had evolved into a world-renowned cultural showcase. The 2025 festival once again drew visitors from around the globe, united by a love for Louisiana’s heritage. Longtime residents and first-time attendees experienced a weekend steeped in rhythm and authenticity. Prior to the festival’s opening, organizers emphasized their mission of celebrating the artists, musicians, and culinary figures who have kept Acadiana’s culture vibrant for generations.

Throughout the weekend, the festival highlighted the community’s pride in its enduring roots. Attendees danced in the open air, shared plates of local cuisine, and browsed artisan booths—each moment echoing the spirit of the bayou.

Girard Park hosted five stages of continuous live performances, filling every corner with the heartbeat of Cajun and Zydeco sound. Legendary musicians shared the stage with up-and-coming artists determined to carry the torch of Louisiana’s distinctive sound. From the rhythmic drive of Zydeco to the haunting melodies of Cajun fiddle tunes, the performances illustrated the deep connections between past and present. Audiences swayed, clapped, and two-stepped to acts that reflected the evolution of Acadiana’s folk traditions while maintaining their timeless appeal. Groups such as BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet and Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band drew large crowds, while newer collaborations showcased the innovative future of Cajun and Creole music.

No Louisiana celebration was complete without its unforgettable flavors. At the Culture Sur la Table cooking stage, local chefs demonstrated their craft, creating dishes that honored both traditional recipes and modern interpretations. Visitors sampled everything from rich gumbo and smoky jambalaya to savory boudin and cracklins. Some vendors offered inventive takes like Cajun-Asian fusion, proving that Louisiana cuisine continued to evolve while remaining true to its roots.

Food tents stretched throughout the park, each one representing a different facet of Acadiana’s culinary identity. The aroma of rice and gravy wafted through the air, inviting guests to pause between musical sets for a comforting bite of homegrown flavor.

The Louisiana Crafts Fair added a visual dimension to the celebration, showcasing handmade jewelry, textiles, and fine art inspired by regional traditions. Artisans from across the state displayed pieces rooted in local storytelling and craftsmanship. Many attendees left with unique keepsakes that reflected Louisiana’s enduring artistry. This element of the festival not only supported small creators but also emphasized the importance of cultural preservation through handmade expression.

Sunday morning began with movement and energy as the Tour de Attakapas took off from Girard Park. Participants joined in 5K, 10K, and duathlon (run-paddle-run) events, blending fitness with festivity. The race not only encouraged health and recreation but also connected participants to the park’s scenic landscape before the final day of music and dance began.

On Friday, the Hilliard Art Museum hosted the annual Festivals Acadiens et Créoles Symposium, featuring scholars, musicians, and cultural leaders discussing the impact of Cajun and Creole movements on art, radio, and language. Speakers explored how these traditions shaped Louisiana’s identity both locally and internationally.

Sports fans gathered under the Louisiana Sports Tent to cheer for their favorite teams, including the UL Ragin’ Cajuns,LSU Tigers, and New Orleans Saints. The tent provided a lively hub for camaraderie, uniting festival-goers through both athletic passion and cultural pride.

With its fusion of music, art, and cuisine, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles continued to stand as a living tribute to Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole identity. The 2025 event celebrated the region’s creativity, resilience, and sense of belonging—reminding all who attended that Louisiana’s heritage was not just history, but a vibrant part of its present.

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Lafayette’s Festivals Acadiens Celebrates Cajun and Creole Music’s Bright Future

The 2025 poster for Festivals Acadiens et Créoles was unveiled as a tribute to a defining moment in the history of Cajun and Creole music, according to this article from The Advocate. More than an artistic announcement, the design serves as a commemoration of hope, cultural pride, and renewal that began five decades ago.

In 1975, the “Hommage à la Musique Acadienne” concert took place inside Blackham Coliseum on the campus of theUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette. At the time, the concert was only in its second year, yet it gathered icons such asZachary Richard and Clifton Chenier, placing Cajun and Creole music in a large-scale arena setting that had rarely been attempted before. The performance transformed into an unforgettable evening, one that reshaped the trajectory of Louisiana’s musical heritage.

According to folklorist and cultural historian Barry Ancelet, who also founded Festivals Acadiens, that night stood out for its symbolic gestures. He explained that it was during this performance when Clifton Chenier crowned himself, boldly declaring his place as the “King of Zydeco.” At the same event, Zachary Richard raised his fist into the air while holding a handmade flag, a gesture that resonated deeply with the audience. For many, this moment showed that Cajun and Creole music not only had roots in the past but carried a vibrant future as well.

The 2025 festival poster, revealed on September 13 during ArtWalk at the Acadiana Center for the Arts, directly references this pivotal event. At the bottom of the artwork, Richard and his band are captured mid-performance, fists raised in solidarity. Above them rises the symbolic tree from Richard’s flag. The original photograph was taken in 1975 by Louisiana photographer Elemore Morgan Jr., while the poster itself was designed by Nova Scotia artist François Gaudet. The imagery was carefully crafted to emphasize resilience, continuity, and the enduring strength of Cajun identity.

Ancelet reflected that the concert had awakened something profound in the community, reminding those in attendance that the Cajun people carried a difficult past but also a collective future filled with promise. He noted that the impact of that evening still shaped music today, pointing to contemporary performers such as Jourdan Thibodeaux, Louis Michot, and the band Bonsoir, Catin as examples of how the tradition continued to evolve in fresh and innovative directions.

The theme for this year’s festival, “Et asteur quoi?!” which translates to “And now what?!” echoes that same spirit of curiosity and renewal. While the 51st edition reflects on the past, it also looks forward, emphasizing that the path of Cajun and Creole music remains open-ended, brimming with possibilities. Today, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles is recognized as the largest Cajun and Creole music festival in the world, serving as a stage for cultural renaissance and a beacon of southwest Louisiana’s sound.

Half a century after that transformative concert, the Cajun and Creole music revival has spread globally, captivating audiences far beyond Louisiana’s borders. Ancelet explained that the festival’s guiding philosophy has been to honor the culture while allowing it space to grow. For over five decades, this approach has encouraged creativity while preserving authenticity, ensuring that the tradition remains both relevant and dynamic.

The upcoming Festivals Acadiens et Créoles will take place in Girard Park in Lafayette from October 10–12, 2025. Admission will be free, offering audiences the chance to enjoy a diverse lineup of Cajun, Creole, and zydeco musicians. More details, including the full schedule, are available through the festival’s official website.

Moments like Zachary Richard’s raised fist and Clifton Chenier’s crown endure because they transcend performance. They became symbols of pride, identity, and resistance against cultural erasure. Festivals Acadiens et Créoles continues to honor those origins while encouraging new generations to add their voices to the tradition. In this way, the event serves not only as entertainment but also as a living classroom, teaching history and culture through rhythm and song.

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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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Rougarou Fest Unleashed Howls of Fun, Hot Air Balloons, and Trick-or-Treating

Houma, Louisiana recently witnessed a howling good time as the 12th annual Rougarou Fest took center stage, offering a captivating blend of tricks, treats, and high-flying adventure. The festival spanned an entire weekend, captivating attendees from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. This enchanting event unfolded in the vicinity of the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, The Courtyard Marriot, and the Terrebonne Parish Library Main Branch. According to this article from Houma Today, Rougarou Fest is a unique celebration that has become a hallmark of the Houma community and a key fundraiser for the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center.

The notion of a howl-off, a contest where participants unleash their most spine-tingling howls, was sparked by the festival’s poster art, according to Jonathan Foret, the festival’s founder. He revealed, “The Rougarou howling is sort of the inspiration of, ‘Let’s do a howling contest.’ I can’t believe it took me 12 years to come to that one.” The howl-off took place on Friday evening at 8 p.m., with participants vying for the coveted first, second, and third-place titles in both the adult and children’s categories, each receiving a prestigious medal.

Adding to the festive ambiance, trick-or-treating was scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, offering kids a chance to don their spookiest costumes and collect delectable goodies. But that’s not all. The event also promised an exhilarating adventure with hot air balloon rides available on both Friday and Saturday, running from 5 to 9 p.m. on both days. The festival’s diverse array of events and their respective timings can be found in detail on the official Rougarou Fest website, offering visitors a comprehensive schedule to plan their visit accordingly.

Rougarou Fest began its journey in 2012, serving as the primary annual fundraiser for the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center in Houma. Named after the legendary bayou werewolf, the festival is an ode to the rich folklore that thrives along the bayous of Southeast Louisiana. Over the years, it has evolved into a grand celebration, featuring a mesmerizing parade, a highly competitive costume contest, Cajun culinary delights, and enlightening discussions on local folklore, all accompanied by fascinating exhibits.

The South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, the beneficiary of the festival’s proceeds, is a non-profit organization dedicated to revolutionizing how we perceive, educate, and learn about the disappearing coastal regions of Louisiana. It stands as a testament to the collective efforts of the community to conserve and protect these precious wetlands.

Rougarou Fest’s outstanding contributions to the local culture and its commitment to environmental awareness have earned it recognition on various platforms. In 2014, USA Today ranked it as one of the Top 10 Costume Parties in the United States. In 2015 and 2019, the Southeast Tourism Society acknowledged it as one of the Top 20 Events among 11 states for the month of October. Further, the festival received the title of Best New Event in the state of Louisiana in 2015, as awarded by the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals. And most recently, in 2020 and 2023, the Louisiana Travel Association bestowed upon it the esteemed honor of being the Festival of the Year.

In summary, Rougarou Fest is an enchanting celebration that brings the vibrant folklore of Louisiana’s bayous to life. With thrilling howl-offs, hot air balloon rides, and delightful trick-or-treating, this event is a true testament to the region’s cultural richness and its dedication to preserving the invaluable wetlands. It’s no wonder that Rougarou Fest has garnered accolades and has become a beloved tradition in the hearts of the Houma community.

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A Guide to Louisiana’s Crawfish Festivals

It’s crawfish season in Louisiana, and festival season also. That can only mean one thing, crawfish festivals!

Crawfish are an important part of Louisiana State’s identity, economy, and cuisine. This red crustacean is found in both Creole and Cajun dishes throughout Louisiana and is cooked in every possible way imaginable.

In fact, the most commonly asked question in Louisiana from visitors is “When is crawfish season?”

The importance of the crawfish is first seen in the Houma Indian tribe, where the crawfish was used as its emblem for hundreds of years. In the 1800s, lobster recipes brought by Cajun settlers from their Canadian roots were substituted with crawfish. Then, Creole restaurant entrepreneurs realized how delicious and accessible crawfish was, and it’s been an important part of Louisiana culture and cuisine ever since!

What makes crawfish an even bigger commodity is the fact that it’s seasonal. Prime time for crawfish falls from February to mid-May. For many Louisiana residents, crawfish is the marker for an upcoming spring.

In honor of crawfish season and the fact that Louisianians have a festival for everything, here’s a guide to the best Louisiana Crawfish festivals you don’t want to miss.

Louisiana Crawfish Festival

This festival is from March 26th to the 29th in Chalmette. St. Bernard Parish is one of the most seafood-centric regions in Louisiana. Most of this is due to a commercial fishing industry that has been thriving for decades. Head to this fest for every imaginable recipe of crawfish, good Cajun music, arts and crafts, and pageants.

The Original Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival

This three say party occurs on April 17-18 in Lake Charles. Although it’s called a crawfish festival, expect a celebration that focuses on all the awesome things St. Charles has to offer. You’ll find pageants, live music, local crafts, and carnival rides.

Slidell’s Annual Crawfish Cook-Off

The largest one day event on the Northshore, this festival is on April 18 in Slidell. This festival hosts a healthy competition that has more than 60 teams cooking for the title of Best Crawfish in St. Tammany Parish. Plan for large crowds, great music from well known artists, and a special kids zone for kids 12 and under.

Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival

The first weekend of May each year (May 1-3 this year), this huge festival is hosted in Breaux Bridge. With over 30,000 visitors flocking to Cajun Country, Breaux Bridge was named the Crawfish Capital of the World in 1959, and the festival followed suit in 1960. The festival embodies Cajun culture with authentic music and food.

Curious about other festivals in Louisiana? Click herefor a complete list.

Want to find crawfish without the crowds? Head to one of these restaurants for a delicious crawfish meal:

If you’re interested in the history of crawfish, Jeff Davis Parish offers crawfish farm toursthat show visitors a glimpse into crawfish ecology and the business.

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5 Gumbo Festivals in Louisiana You Won’t Want To Miss

Gumbo and Louisiana have gone together since the beginning of time, it seems. So, it’s only natural that the great state of Louisiana be home to several Gumbo Festivals!

Gumbo, a southern Louisiana classic, is a thick stew-like soup filled with meat or seafood, okra, and Creole and Cajun seasonings. This dish dates back as far as the beginning of the 19th century, but it’s unsure where it originated. Some say it’s roots belong to the Choctaw, others claim it’s a West African dish, and others credit the French. Regardless, this dish is a treasured part of Louisiana history.

Every October and November, hundreds of thousands of Louisianians participate in making and tasting gumbo, coming together as a community to celebrate the rich and unique culture that has been cultivated over time. It’s festivals like these that make Louisiana such a unique state, and there’s nowhere else in the world you could find such trademark gumbo in such delicious capacities than at one of these festivals.

Louisiana Travel put together a list of five gumbo festivals every Louisianian should taste!

Louisiana Gumbo Festival

Located in Chackbay, the “Gumbo Capital of Louisiana”, this festival has been an on-going October fest for more than 45 years. With volunteers cooking over 500 gallons of gumbo, jambalaya, and other Cajun specialites, you can get your fill of this Louisiana classic and then grab a partner and dance to the live music that’s there every day.

Bridge City Gumbo Festival

Having grown into one of the New Orleans area’s premiere food events, this festival in Bridge City brings in over 60,000 attendees every October. See the intense competition between who makes the best gumbo and enjoy a weekend filled with delicious food (and get to meet some of the best chefs in New Orleans!).

World Championship Gumbo Cookoff

In this two- day festival in New Iberia, over 100 teams of gumbo professionals cook up their best gumbo recipes from scratch in hopes of winning ultimate gumbo champion. What’s unique about this festival is that everything from the roux to the rice is prepared on site and fresh to the taste.

South Louisiana Blackpot Festival & Cookoff

Check out Lafayette’s cajun roots at the Blackpot festival. Although it’s one of the newer gumbo festivals, it’s also the biggest, with gravy, gumbo, cracklins, jambalaya, and dessert competitions, a massive music selection with square dance groups and string bands, and see some of the best bands in the world like The Pine Leaf Boys and Cedric Watson. You can even camp out on site to make sure you don’t miss any of the good stuff!

Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival

The only festival in November, the month of perfect gumbo weather, this free festival satisfies every diet, with Creole, Cajun, and vegan gumbo. So grab a bowl and sit back to listen to some of New Orleans’ best brass bands.

So for a true Louisiana experience, make sure to hit one of these fall festivals (and your sweet spot),eat more gumbo than you’ve ever dreamed, and experience Louisiana at its greatest!

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