Louisiana can properly claim the title “festival capital of the world,” with more than 400 festivals and events scheduled annually around the state.
Springtime brings an abundance or fresh produce in Louisiana, and you can taste the bounty at the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival or the Louisiana Peach Festival in Ruston in a variety of ways.
And of course, spring means it’s time for crawfish festivals! Arguably the most popular music festival in Louisiana is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, a seven-day festival that draws some of the best musical acts of all genres, including jazz, rock, R&B and more. The French Quarter Festival, the South’s largest free music festival, is a massive event with 21 stages and 400-plus hours of live entertainment. Lafayette hosts Festival International de Louisiane, a free festival celebrating south Louisiana’s French cultural heritage. Native musicians as well as performing artists from Europe, Africa, Canada and the Caribbean play on the festival’s stages. Shop Marche des Arts, a fine arts market with artists from around the country, and Marche du Monde, a world market with sculptures, photography, jewelry and more by artisans around the globe.
In the summer, grabbing a Natchitoches meat pie at the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival is a must – it’s the city’s signature dish! And since 1937, the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival has celebrated the sweetest thing of all – sugar – with a Blessing of the Crops and a parade with the reigning King Sucrose and Queen Sugar. At any moment, Louisiana is filled with the sounds of jazz, zydeco, blues and everything in between. Ever heard of swamp pop music? Experience this unique music genre at the Swamp Pop Music Festival in Gonzales. And don’t miss the quirky Louisiana Pirate Festival in Lake Charles.
In the fall – there are as many different festivals as there are local delicacies. In fact, New Orleans hosts a festival dedicated to a beloved food item at the Beignet Fest, the Fried Chicken Festival and the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival. Sample some of Louisiana’s native influences at the Zwolle Tamale Fiesta. And of course, Louisiana’s state cuisine is celebrated at multiple gumbo festivals. Up in Shreveport, check out the Louisiana Soul Food Fall Festival to fill up on all the down-home comfort food to your heart’s content. Fine the best music of the season at the Abita Fall Fest in Abita Springs, the Acadia Music Fest in Thibodaux, and Festival Acadiens et Creoles in Lafayette. Lovers of the arts will appreciate the Red River Revel Arts Festival in Shreveport. And in Houma, the Rougarou Fest celebrates the local legend of the Rougarou and the rich folklore of the bayous of Southeast Louisiana.
And in the wintertime, the Great River Road region from New Orleans to Baton Rouge can lay claim to one of the more unusual public December holiday lighting displays you’ll find in Louisiana. On the earthen levees bordering the Mississippi River, you’ll find that local Christmas lights aren’t colored bulbs, but instead dozens of 20-to-30-feet-high flaming pyramids of burning logs – like at the Festival of the Bonfires in Lutcher or the Algiers Bonfire & Concert. While the bonfires are, of course, the star of the show, both festivals offer additional activities like amusement rides, craft markets and great food. In central and north Louisiana, a trip along the Holiday Trail of Lights will fill you with cheer. The most notable holiday event is the annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival – celebrating since 1927.
Visit LouisianaBonTemps.com to find your festival!