Held weekend before Labor Day down the bayou in Gueydan, LA, this festival highlights the hunting heritage of the Acadiana regio. The Duck Festival offers a duck & goose calling contest, hunting dog trials, a decoy carving competition and other outdoors activities, as well as great food and music.
Another agricultural festival -- this one celebrating sugar cane. SHWEET!! Held in New Iberia, LA in late September.
South Louisiana Festivals
South Louisiana is known for its parties and there is plenty of festival action outside of the New Orleans/Baton Rouge area. Check out these opportunities for celebratory fun.
Held in April, this is THE premiere festival celebrating the French cultural heritage of southern Louisiana. Held in Lafayette, this fest brings in performers from the French-speaking corners of the world to create a weekend of Francophone fun.
Held at the end of August in Plaisance, LA, THIS is a MUSIC festival!!! Zydeco Fest is all about the music of the Creoles of SW La. It's a great time to have some gumbo and literally dance the night away. You can also learn about Creole culture and its influence on state culture.
Held in May, the Frog Festival is a celebration of Rayne, LA's heritage as the single largest worldwide shipper of frog legs through most of the 20th century. With food, music, frog races & more, the Frog Fest is just plain fun.
The festival is held in Morgan City, LA every Labor Day weekend. It is the oldest chartered festival in the state. The shrimp and petroleum combo may be strange, but the festival is ALL THAT!!! Lots of great Cajun food (shrimp included), cajun and zydeco music, and the Blessing of the Fleet, make this festival a real Louisiana experience.
In mid-October, Crowley celebrates its contribution to Louisiana agriculture with the Rice Festival. Lots of music, rides, and -- you guessed it -- RICE! Contest categories include: rice cooking, rice grading, and rice eating. YUM!!!
Every weekend in November and into December, in Hammond, the LA Renaissance Fest recreates an English village with a Cajun flair. Lots of lords & ladies, peasants, gypsies, and knights along with lots of crafts and food.
Held in Buras, LA on the first weekend in December, it's all about the citrus at this tangy festival. Think blood oranges, satsumas, Louisiana Sweets -- all there for the tasting! The Orange Festival also features great bands, great food, and lots of family activities.
Head to Lake Charles in May. Pirate Jean Lafitte takes over and proclaims "Pirate Rule" during Contraband Days -- the largest festival in SW Louisiana. Visitors are required to wear eye patches and say, "Arrgghh..."
