Festivals & Festivities

Grand Coteau

Rainbeau Festival Bouree Tournament – St. Ignatius School, 180 Church Street - February

Family Conge' - Academy of the Sacred Heart – April Annual family celebration featuring a food court, silent auction, live music, athletic events, and games for children.

Rainbow Festival – St. Ignatius School, 180 Church Street – April Annual school fair featuring live music, games and other activities, concessions, bingo, and barbecue.

Family Fun Day - May

St. Charles Parish Family Fun Day - October

Veteran's Day Parade - November

Christmas at Coteau - Academy of the Sacred Heart - December Annual fund raising event for the Academy of the Sacred Heart. It features fine dining, live music, silent and live auctions, the Holiday Boutique, and the Gourmet Shoppe.

Sunset

Sunset Mardi Gras – Napoleon Avenue – February/March Notable is the Sunset-Sertoma Mardi Gras Parade held annually on Mardi Gras Day.

A Celebration of Herbs and Gardens – May Family oriented festival focusing on flowers and herbs and their many uses. Included are a wide variety of vendors, informative lectures, and concessions. Special children's areas and activities are programmed.

Christmas at Chretien Point – Chretien Point Road - December A traditional 1831 Christmas is depicted in this antebellum plantation home.

Sing Along in Sunset - Napoleon Avenue - December Christmas program with school bands, choral groups, and life-size nativity.

Opelousas

Martin Luther King Celebration – Little Zion Baptist Church, 840 West Bellevue Street – January Annual celebration that features a parade and program in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bayou Ramble Antique Show and Sale – Yamatorium, 1863 West Landry Street – February Annual antique show featuring dealers from throughout the United States.

Here's the Beef Cook-off Contest – Yambilee Agricultural Arena, 1863 West Landry Street – February Annual beef cooking contest which includes live music and a trail ride. Sponsored by the St. Landry Parish Cattlemen Association.

Half Fast Krewe of Frank's Mardi Gras Parade – Landry Street – February or March Annual Mardi Gras parade.

Main Street Revived – Court and Landry Streets – Spring/Fall Free Friday evening concert series held downtown.

International Cajun Joke Telling Contest – Yamatorium, 1863 West Landry Street – April Annual event that features a social hour and music, dinner, and a joke telling contest.

CFMA Cajun Music Festival – Yambilee Building, 1863 West Landry Street – May An annual festival produced by the Cajun French Music Association, Acadiana Charter Chapter, and featuring the best of live Cajun music, food, and dancing.

Juneteenth Folklife Celebration – Farmer's Market, Louisiana Highway 190 East A unique celebration of African-American history and cultural heritage.

Zydeco 5K/Mile Fun Run – South City Park, 1524 South Market Street – August/September Event held in conjunction with the Zydeco Music Festival. The run meanders thorough the community's historic residential areas.

Louisiana Yambilee Festival – Yambilee Fairgrounds, 1863 West Landry Street – October Begun in 1946, and one of the oldest in Louisiana, this annual festival celebrates the yam industry of St. Landry Parish. The festival includes live music, food (including sweet potato pies), arts and crafts, carnival rides, shows and exhibits, the Soiree Royal with the crowning of the Yam Queen, and the Grand Louisyam Parade. Sponsored by the Yambilee Association.

Music and Manger – October

Holy Ghost Creole Bazaar and Festival – 788 North Union Street – November Live Zydeco music and dancing, barbecue, and a fish fry.

Louisiana Memorial United Methodist Church Annual Barbecue and Bazaar – 101 North Lombard – November Features barbecue, baked goods, and arts and crafts.

Veteran's Day Parade and Program – Landry Street and St. Landry Parish Courthouse – November Parade from the Opelousas Tourist Center to the St. Landry Parish Courthouse.

'Through a Child's Eye' – Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center – 315 Main Street – December Annual Christmas display and program featuring antique dolls and toys, and a Christmas village.

Christmas at OMA – 100 North Union Street – December Annual art auction and festive holiday gala.

Kwanzaa in Opelousas – Holy Ghost Church, 788 North Union Street – December African roots holiday featuring a church dinner and entertainment, and celebrating family and community.

Annual Children's Christmas Parade – Downtown – December Featuring lighted floats, marching bands and drill teams, and Santa. Sponsored by the ABWA Jim Bowie Chapter.

Christmas in Old Opelousas - December

Opelousas Area

Courir de Mardi Gras – Grand Prairie – February/March

Cankton Wagon Festival and Trail Ride – Cankton City Park, Cankton – May Annual trail ride and festival features live Cajun music and concessions. Sponsored by the Cankton Volunteer Fire Department.

Ιtouffιe Festival – Little Flower School Grounds, Arnaudville – April A family-oriented festival that features all types of ιtouffιe and other Cajun dishes, an ιttoufιe cook off, arts and crafts, live Cajun music and dancing, a parade, and other activities.

Swamp Pop Festival – Veteran's Memorial Park, Port Barre – May Featuring the music of Southwest Louisiana Swamp Pop artists, concessions, and a carnival. Sponsored by the Port Barre Volunteer Fire Department.

Port Barre Lion's Club Fishing Rodeo, Auction, and Dance – American Legion Hall, Port Barre – June

Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival – Plaisance – September One-day Zydeco extravaganza featuring live Zydeco music and dancing, Creole arts and crafts, and traditional Creole (fried pork chop sandwich) and Cajun foods. Reserved spaces for tents and recreational vehicles. Produced by the Southern Development Foundation.

Chicken Festival – Lawtell – October Features live Zydeco music and chicken dishes.

Cracklin Festival – Veteran's Park, Port Barre – November Annual festival featuring live music, arts and crafts, concessions, the crowning of the Cracklin Queen, a parade, and the graton (cracklin) cooking contest. Sponsored by the Port Barre Lion's Club as a fundraiser.

L'Avant Noel – Arnaudville – December Tour of homes, crafts show, and food bazaar.

Washington

Washington Catfish Festival – Main Street – March Formerly known as Festival du Courtableau, this annual, family-oriented festival celebrates the catfish and life on the Bayou Courtableau. It features live Cajun music, native crafts and demonstrations, antiques, arts and crafts, cooking demonstrations, food and beverage concessions, historic home tours, and a catfish cook-off.

Washington Garden Club Flower Show – Third weekend in March

Music in Historic Sites – Various locations Concert series featuring 300 years of French music in Louisiana and produced by the Washington Garden Club to benefit the restoration of St. John's Episcopal Church.

Christmas in Historic Washington – December Tour of decorated homes.

Krotz Springs Area

Melville Mardi Gras – Melville – February/March

Lebeau Mini Zydeco Festival – Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, U.S. Highway 71, Lebeau – July This annual festival features live Zydeco music and food and beverage vendors.

Atchafalaya Fun Fest – Krotz Springs – June

Stars and Stripes Forever – Melville – July Fourth of July celebration.

Atchafalaya Catfish Festival – Melville Civic Center, Melville - September This new festival features live music, food and beverage booths, arts and crafts, and games for kids.

Christmas on the Bayou – Melville – December Christmas lighting and decorations, parade, and Community Choir performances.

Rayne

Le Bal de Mardi Gras – Main Street and Rayne Civic Center February/March Mardi Gras parade and traditional Mardi Gras dance.

Ray*La*Ne Events– Rayne Depot Square – May Featuring live Cajun and Zydeco music, a classic car show, Cajun cuisine, and a carnival. Founded in 1998.

Jam Bourrι – August World championship Bourrι (“Cajun Bridge”) tournament.

Rayne Frog Festival – Rayne Fairgrounds, Frog Festival Drive – Labor Day Weekend, September Live music, frog jumping contest, parade, carnival, arts and crafts, folklore presentations and demonstrations, and concessions. Founded in 1972.

Main Street Magic Promotion – Main Street and Other Locations – December A series of special events and activities for Christmas. Included are an open house at City Hall, a tour of decorated homes, choral and gospel groups, and the annual Christmas parade.

Rayne Area

Duson Rides – Duson – February Annual trail ride and live music.

Downtown Alive! – Mire – August Produced by Mire Elementary School and Assumption Catholic Church to benefit the school's Renaissance Program.

Germanfest – St. Leo IV Catholic Church, Roberts Cove – October Celebrates family values and the German traditions of the area. The festival Features an Alpenfest Band with traditional music, German folk singing and dancing performed by the descendents of local settlers, children's activities, a museum and folklore tent, arts and crafts, and traditional German foods such as sauerkraut, zucker plδtzchen (sugar cookies) and kartoffel (smothered potatoes).

St. Edmond's Annual Church Bazaar – Branch – October

Branch Fall Festival – Branch – November Small annual festival hosted by the Branch Elementary School.

Church Point

Cajun Music Jam Sessions – Saddle Tramps Club House – Weekly

Church Point Courir – Various locations – (Sunday before Fat Tuesday) February or March Traditional Courir de Mardi Gras run through Church Point and the surrounding countryside. Sponsored by the Saddle Tramp Riding Club.

Our Mother of Peace School Bazaar – Second weekend in May Features Cajun music, food, crafts, auction, and a carnival.

Church Point Elementary School Cajun Day – May

Church Point Buggy Festival and Parade – Park and Downtown – First full weekend of June The Festival includes a buggy parade, live Cajun music, Cajun cuisine, youth fiddle and accordion contests, a children's cultural tent, a French-speaking contest, a trail ride, and the crowning of the Buggy Queen.

Le Jour des Cajuns – Second Sunday of November Long established annual celebration featuring Cajun music and dancing, food, and the crowning of the Cajun Queen. Sponsored and produced by the Saddle Tramp Riding Club.

Church Point Christmas Parade – Main Street – December

Live Nativity Scene – Acadia-St. Landry Hospital Grounds – Feast of St. Nicholas, December

Crowley

Rice Capital Juried Art Show – 220 North Parkerson – February Sponsored by the Crowley Art Association.

Spring Arts and Crafts Show – Knights of Columbus 5499 Hall, 226 West Elm Street – March

May Market – Downtown Historic Commercial District – May This annual event features a Baseball Day Parade, music and other entertainment, refreshments, and art, including Louisiana artisans demonstrating pottery, knitting, and woodwork. Sponsored by the Crowley Main Street Program.

JulyFκte – Downtown – First weekend of July Old time Fourth of July celebration featuring a patriotic parade, live music, special activities for kids, and a large fireworks display.

International Rice Festival (Founded 1937) – Downtown – October The granddaddy of Louisiana agricultural festivals pays tribute to the rice industry of Acadia Parish. The festival features a street fair, a fais do do, live musical entertainment, a livestock show, rice-cooking, -eating, and -grading contests, accordion, fiddle, and harmonica playing contests, a children's parade, and the Grand Parade presided over by the newly-crowned Rice Queen.

International Rice Festival Arts and Crafts Show – Levy Park – October Very large arts and crafts show held in conjunction with the International Rice Festival.

Christmas Concert and Tour of Homes – Levy Park – December Annual concert featuring local school bands and choral groups.

Crowley Kiwanis Club Christmas Parade – Downtown - December

Eunice

Courir de Mardi Gras – Various locations – February or March Four-day, annual Mardi Gras celebration featuring several parades, including the Liberty Truck Parade and the traditional Courir de Mardi Gras Parade, a boucherie, the Courir or traditional Mardi Gras run, special exhibits and shows, live Cajun, Zydeco, and other music, food, and the world's largest King Cake.

World Championship Crawfish Ιtouffιe Cookoff – Northwest Community Center Pavilion, Samuel Drive – March An annual event that features a crawfish ιtouffιe cooking contest for both professional chefs and non-professional cooks, live Cajun and Zydeco music and dancing, and a trade show featuring the crawfish industry.

Old Time Boucherie – City Hall – Sunday before Mardi Gras Demonstration of a traditional boucherie with live Cajun music and dancing, and concessions.

Eunice Festival of the Arts and Louisiana State University – Eunice Community Day – Louisiana State University - Eunice Campus - April A one day festival featuring arts and crafts, special “hands on” children's programs, live music and entertainment, concessions, and a juried art competition. Produced by the Eunice Arts Foundation.

Cajun French Music Festival – Northwest Community Center Pavilion, Samuel Drive – April One day, annual festival featuring live Cajun music, dancing, and food. Sponsored by the Cajun French Music Association.

Smiley's Annual Spring Soiree and Antique Car Show – 100 East Maple Avenue – April Juried antique car show, live music and dancing, crawfish boil, and other activities.

“Un Celebration de Cajun – Leur Culture Avec Leur Music” – Northwest Community Center Pavilion, Samuel Drive – June Annual, one-day event featuring live Cajun music and dancing. Sponsored by the Louisiana Cajun Culture and Music Club.

July 4th Celebration – Northwest Pavilion, Samuel Drive – July Annual celebration with a large fireworks display, live Cajun music and dancing, and concessions.

Downtown Merchants Arts and Crafts Show – Downtown – Fall Sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association.

Eunice Prairie Folklife Festival – Downtown – Third weekend of October Three-day, annual event featuring a fais do do, native craft demonstrations, cooking demonstrations, Cajun and Zydeco music, and food booths with traditional Cajun and Creole cuisine.

Christmas Parade – Downtown – December

Eunice Area

Basile Mardi Gras – February/March Basile celebrates an authentic, old-time Cajun Mardi Gras each year, complete with masked riders, a community gumbo, and street dancing.

T-Bar Ranch Rodeo – U.S. Highway 190 (East of Eunice)

Louisiana Swine Festival – Main Street, Basile – November It's SOOOWEEEEE!!! every year at this festival that features live Cajun and other music, concessions, a greased pig contest, a pork cooking contest, a cochon de lait, the Miss Swine and the Teen Swine Pageant, and King Porky and Queen Petunia.

Mamou

Le Courir de Mardi Gras a Cheval – Downtown and Countryside – February/March The traditional country Mardi Gras featuring masked and costumed revelers on horse back riding through the countryside and collecting ingredients – live chickens and roosters, and rice – for a huge gumbo that is made in town upon their return. At every house they stop, the reward for the contributing homeowner is a Mardi Gras dance. This traditional Mardi Gras celebration dates back before the Civil War. It was not held for many years and then was revived in 1953 by Paul Tate, Sr. The celebration also includes live Cajun music and a big dance after the gumbo.

Mamou Rodeo – Saturday before Mardi Gras

Veterans Day Celebration – May

Mamou Cajun Music Festival – Mamou Civic Center, Main and First Streets – First full weekend of June Nearly thirty years old, this festival is the result of a focused and concentrated effort to preserve traditional Cajun music and culture. Features live Cajun music and dancing, a boucherie, Cajun food and barbecue vendors, crafts, and a slate of competitive activities, including: wrestling bouts, egg throwing contests, greased pole climbing, and a guinea hen chase for the kids. Produced by the Mamou Cajun Music Festival Association. The celebration has been previously selected as a top twenty event by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Mamou Zydeco and Blues Festival – First full weekend of October Featuring down-home Blues and Zydeco music and dancing and Creole food sales with dishes such as turtle sauce piquant and fried alligator.

Mamou Cajun Christmas Parade – Main and Sixth Streets A traditional Christmas parade highlighted by classical Christmas music sung in French.

Ville Platte

Le Festival de la Viande Boucaneι – Ville Platte Civic Center and Grounds – Last full weekend of June The annual smoked meat festival celebrates a major industry and tradition in features live musical entertainment, food and beverage vendors, an arts and crafts trade show, heritage craft demonstrations, and a beauty pageant. Also featured is the World Championship Smoked Meat Cook Off, in both professional and amateur divisions. Promoted by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 632.

Juneteenth Celebration – Southside Park – June A celebration of Ville Platte's African American culture and heritage.

Lighting of the Oaks – October-January Project sponsored by the Magnolia Club

Louisiana Cotton Festival and Le Tournoi de la Ville Platte – Second weekend in October Long established festival featuring live Cajun music and a fais do do, concessions, a parade, carnival rides and games, a beauty pageant to select the Cotton Queen, and the ancient game of “Le Tournoi”, a jousting contest with roots in medieval France.

Louisiana Cajun Gumbo Festival – West Main Street – First full weekend in November Annual festival featuring live Cajun and other music, concessions, novelties, arts and crafts, special activities for children, and a gumbo cook off competition. Sponsored by the Ville Platte Lions Club.

Ville Platte Area

Mardi Gras Run – Drouet Park, Turkey Creek – February/March

Mardi Gras Family Run – Chataignier – February/March

Boggy Bayou Festival – Boggy Bayou Fairgrounds, Pine Prairie – April Featuring the Bayou Boggy Olympics, Cajun food and beverage vendors, a beauty pageant to select the Boggy Bayou Queen, and live music.

Chataignier Volunteer Fire Department Barbecue – Chataignier – August

Mt. Carmel Trail Ride – Chataignier – September

Sheep Bash and Horse Show – Turkey Creek Arena, Turkey Creek – Third Saturday of every month

Chataignier Christmas Parade – Chataignier – December

Turkey Creek Christmas Parade and Crafts Show – Drouet Park, Turkey Creek - December