Louisiana hosts many festivals throughout the year celebrating aspects of its culture from music, food and agriculture. Some of the major festivals highlighted in the document include the Shrimp Festival in Delcambre in August, the Jazz Festival in New Orleans in late April/early May, the Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge in May, and the Christmas Festival in Natchitoches from November to New Years. These festivals feature live music, cooking competitions, parades, carnival rides and celebrate key parts of Louisiana's economy and heritage.
2. Shrimp Festival Louisiana blesses the fleet of its shrimp boats to begin what is known as the Shrimp Festival. Delcambre has one of the most productive fleets in the region. The third full weekend in August is the weekend dedicated to celebrating this economic livelihood. The weekend is filled with pageants, cook-offs, food booths, carnival rides, and fais-do-do’s.
3. Jazz Fest New Orleans is the birth place of jazz. The Jazz Festival, however, is not just a celebration of jazz, but instead a celebration of the music created from within the boundaries of Louisiana. The last week of April and the first week of May are dedicated to the inspiration of music. The festival features a wide variety of venders filling the streets with local food and crafts. There is a large area dedicated to the cultural and historical practices uniquely found in Louisiana.
4. Crawfish Festival In 1960 the Legislation named Breaux Bridge, Louisiana the Crawfish Capital of the world. Since then every May, Breaux Bridge has held an annual Crawfish Festival. This festival has become one of the largest gatherings of world famous Cajun, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop music. Over a period of three days approximately thirty bands will play while hungry people flock there to enjoy the many dishes prepared with crawfish. The weekend entertainment also includes cook-offs, crawfish races, dance contests, parades, and carnival rides.
5. Strawberry Festival The Strawberry Festival is one of the biggest fund-raisers. This festival prides itself knowing that the only vendors allowed on the fair grounds are non-profit organizations. This April celebration includes a festival ball, talent show, Miss Strawberry pageant, and baking contests. Food booths and rides are located throughout the fair grounds.
6. Jambalaya Festival Gonzales, Louisiana was named “Jambalaya Capital of the World in 1968. In October, the Annual Jambalaya Festival is held. At least 69 cook compete for the “Jambalaya World Title”. Previous year events may have included a boxing match on the football field, bingo in the gym, and live bands playing while the Jambalaya Queen reigns over the events. Recent festival events include live bands, a 5K run, cooking contests, and carnival rides for the kids. The Queen still reigns over the events as the fun continues for all ages.
7. Peach Festival Every June, Ruston celebrates the fact that they have the largest peach orchards in Louisiana. The Annual Peach Festival has a variety of entertainment such as a pie eating contest, fishing tournaments, a rodeo, and an antique car show. Come and join Queen Dixie Gem and Princess Peach as they dance the night away at the Peach Jam.
8. Acadian Festival Both young and old are encouraged to bring an instrument and jam in the session that take place during the weekend events at the Louisiana Folk Roots Tent. Fine artists and craftspeople fill booths with their unique artwork and design at the Louisiana Crafts Fair. Throughout the weekend the Cajun Culture comes to life with music and crafts.
9. Gumbo Festival Over two-thousand gallons of gumbo are prepared for the Bridge City Gumbo Festival in October. Cajun and Zydeco music fill the air as children from all around are entered into the Most Beautiful Child Contest. Some enjoy the 5K run across the Huey P. Long Bridge while others fill their stomachs as they walk to the different booths located throughout the fair. King Creole Gumbo and Miss Creole Gumbo will be there welcoming everyone to this festive event.
10. Zwolle Tamale Festival This three day fiesta is held in October on the Zwolle Festival Grounds. There are plenty of delicious hot tamales, dancing, arts and crafts, parades, and activities for all the entire family. It also features arm wrestling contests, treasure hunts, costume contests, rides, food booths and a Fiesta Mud Bog Race for trucks.
11. Pecan Festival Colfax is the home of the Pecan Festival. The Queen’s Pageant is held in October officially kicking off the events, but the festival itself takes place in November. Festival activities include craft booths, costume contests, cooking contests, musical entertainment, carnival rides, and fireworks.
12. Swine Festival Come and celebrate the Swine Festival every November in Basile, Louisiana. Although swine is no longer an industry of Basile, the festival still celebrates the swine industry and the Cajun Culture. King Porky and Queen Petunia have put together a variety of activities that can keep one entertained throughout the weekend. Hog calling and greasy pig chases are just as much fun to watch as they are to participate in. Come to Basile to enjoy the carnival rides, parades and delicious Cajun Cuisines this November.
13. Rayne Frog Festival The Frog Festival is an unusual but exciting weekend dedicated to celebrating Rayne’s heritage of being the largest worldwide shipper of frog legs throughout the 20th century. The weekend is filled with activities such a diaper race, fais-do-do’s, carnival rides, food booths, and pageants. Young ladies compete to become the Frog Derby Queen. These young ladies dress up as jockeys while showing off their live dressed-up frogs as the compete in a frog jumping contest.
14. Cracklin Festival The Cracklin Festival has pageants, live music, arts and crafts, parades, cook-offs, and rides for people of all ages. The Lion’s Club in Porte Barre, created this festival as a fund-raiser. Each November the profits from this event are donated to people with special needs or causes.
15. Sugarcane Festival In New Iberia, the sugar industry is honored every September with the Annual Sugarcane Festival. Weekend activities include the King’s Reception, the Sugarcane Festival Run, The Queen’s Sugar Contest, a festive ball, and the blessing of the crops. The annual boat parade is one of the most entertaining parades of the weekend. Boats are decorated and driven down a Bayou Tech while candy is thrown into the crowds of people waving along the river bank. Fireworks, fais-do-dos, craft shows, and contests are great activities for the family.
16. Christmas Festival In Natchitoches, Louisiana the Christmas Festival is held. This festival begins on November 22, and continues until New Year’s. Mini-festivals are held every weekend in December. Tours of the city's beautiful homes are available nightly via carriage or street car. Spectacular firework displays are shown over the Cane River Lake every Saturday and at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Many visit this beautiful city each year to enjoy the live entertainment, craft shows, food fairs, light displays, riverbank vendors, shops, and restaurants.
