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There’s a lot of fun to be had this fall.
Not only are popular food, music and cultural festivals back, but two upcoming events—the Thunder Over Louisiana Air Show and the South Coast Book Festival—are ready to spark your imagination and stretch your opinion on what is possible in this world. And besides fall being football season, there’s another type of game play that is exciting the hearts of the old and young alike. Regardless of your hobby or interest, there’s something for everyone to do around Louisiana this autumn.
It might be scorching hot right now, impeding your desire to do any outside activity besides swimming. Autumn days and nights will begin with a promise of slightly lower temperatures and humidity. Take the opportunity to attend one or a few famous Louisiana festivals. There is a festival for every interest, with some really great ones right here in SWLA.
Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival
Sept. 18-19
meatpiefestival.com
The festival celebrates the famous Natchitoches Meat Pie with a variety of homemade pies, musical entertainment, Meat Pie eating contest, a Cane River Run (hosted by the Independent Motorcycle Riders of Natchitoches), kids’ activities and a brew fest.
Highland Jazz and Blues Festival
Sept. 19
Shreveport
highlandjazzandblues.org
A free funky “party in the park” featuring local and national jazz and blues artists. Highland is a historic neighborhood just south of downtown Shreveport.
Louisiana Alligator Festival
Sept. 24-27
alligatorfestival.org
Luling Sponsored by the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish, this festival raises funds for college scholarships. Enjoy the usual rides, music, arts and crafts, and, of course, food, including alligator cooked in more ways than you can imagine.
Louisiana Sugarcane Festival
Sept. 24-27
New Iberia
facebook.com/LouisianaSugarCaneFestival/.
Celebrate the Louisiana sugar cane industry with parades, carnival, live Cajun and Zydeco music, car show, sugar cookery and art displays.
Zwolle Tamale Fiesta
Oct. 8-10
zwolletamalefiesta.com
The town of Zwolle celebrates its rich Spanish and Indian heritage with a three-day fiesta. The featured festival food—hot tamales, of course! Eat them or enter the tamale making contest.
Red River Revel Arts Festival
Oct. 8-11 and Oct. 15-18
Shreveport
redriverrevel.com
Features over 80 artists utilizing various mediums, music of every genre, a children’s area and food, such as funnel cakes and seafood macaroni, in downtown Shreveport.
Festivals Acadiens et Créoles
Oct. 9-11 Lafayette
festivalsacadiens.com
Celebrates all things Cajun—the history, the music, the food, the language . . . enjoy a fais-do-do, the official cutting of the boudin, arts and crafts, and more. This free festival is held in Girard Park and includes live bands, along with two dozen food vendors in the Bayou Food Festival and artists at the Louisiana Craft Fair.
Crowley International Rice Festival
Oct. 15-18
ricefestival.com
Festival goers can participate in activities such as the classic car show, the Crowley High 5k run/walk and a fiddle and accordion contest. The Rice Festival Queen’s contest, the rice eating contest and a frog derby are always must-see events. The festival has two parades during the weekend. The Children’s Parade is featured on Friday afternoon and the Grand Parade takes the streets on Saturday afternoon.
Boucherie & Balloon Fest
Oct. 16-18
Sorrento
boucheriefestival.com
Sponsored by the Sorrento Lions Club, enjoy hot air balloons, jambalaya and cracklin’ cook-offs, live music and shopping from local vendors.
Andouille Festival
Oct. 16-18
LaPlace
andouillefestival.com
Pass a good time and celebrate this traditional Louisiana sausage. This year’s festival will include the 51st annual Andouille Run/Walk, a second line parade and music.
Ragley Heritage and Timber Festival
Oct. 17
explorelouisiana.com/events/culinary-events/ragley-heritage-timber-festival
Includes presentations on history, pioneers, the formation of the town and founding families.
Wooden Boat Festival
Oct. 17-18
Madisonville
woodenboatfest.org
Hosted by The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum, you’ll see a wide variety of classic wooden boats. A pre-festival gala, “Maritime Mania, is held at the museum on the Friday before the festival. On festival days enjoy a boat-building contest, arts and crafts, live entertainment at the Water Street Riverfront Stage and the Children’s Village at Madisonville Ball Park, 1007 Pine St.
Rougarou Festival
Oct. 23-25
Houma
rougaroufest.org
Only in Louisiana will you find a festival dedicated to this monstrous mythical legend. During the Krewe Ga Rou parade, you’ll see zombies, witches, ghouls, and a Rougarou Time Warp dance. Dress up in your scariest attire, join the parade, enter the Costume Contest and pardon a nutria.
Oak Street Po-boy Festival
Nov. 8
New Orleans
poboyfest.com
Celebrate Louisiana’s favorite sandwich at this annual Po-boy festival. There will be food and beverage vendors, multiple stages with live music, an art market and a po-boy competition.
Beignet Fest
Nov. 17
neworleans.com/event/beignet-fest/3203/
New Orleans
Enjoy a variety of beignets including sweet and savory, classic powdered sugar, and seafood and cheese. There will be musical performances, a beer garden, an art market and a kid’s village. Proceeds benefit nonprofits dedicated to helping children with autism.
Port Barre Cracklin Fest
Nov. 12-15
cracklinfest.com
This Lion’s Club fundraiser provides all the usual festival events—pageantry, a parade, carnival rides and games, food, music and a cracklin cook-off. There are professional and amateur categories and prizes for both taste and booth presentation.
St. Francisville Food & Wine Festival
Nov. 13-15
stfrancisvillefoodandwine.com
The annual St. Francisville Food & Wine Festival is a weekend-long celebration of the culinary culture of Louisiana and Mississippi. Featuring acclaimed chefs, creative wine pairings, cocktail and spirit tastings, craft beer and live entertainment in one of Louisiana’s most beautiful and historic small towns.
Thibodeauxville Fall Fest
Nov. 14
facebook.com/thibodeauxville/
The Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce sponsors this annual event. Experience arts and crafts, music, a car show, and fabulous food. Enjoy a Louisiana inspired cook-off and a duck race where hundreds of yellow rubber ducks float down Bayou Lafourche.
Natchitoches Christmas Festival
Nov. 21
natchitocheschristmas.com/
The city hosts a day-long celebration with food, music, fireworks, and the unveiling of over 300,000 lights that adorn darling downtown Natchitoches. Lights are on display through Jan. 6.
Louisiana Renaissance Fest
Nov. 7-Dec. 13
Hammond
renfest.net
This medieval festival takes place every weekend in November and the first weekend in December. A festival, theme park, theatre, holiday shopping destination and educational experience all rolled into one great adventure. Offers 600 artisans, entertainers and educational demonstrations.
Gumbo Festivals
Louisiana Gumbo Festival of Chackbay
Oct. 9-11
lagumbofest.org
Nearly 500 gallons of gumbo is made over the course of the festival. There will also be live music, a parade and amusement park rides.
World Championship Gumbo Cook-Off
Oct. 10-11
New Iberia
iberiachamber.org/gumbo-cookoff/
Experience the “power of roux” at this 35th annual event hosted by the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce. Gumbo will be separated by categories—amateur chicken and sausage, amateur seafood, amateur Mélange, professional seafood and professional non-seafood.
Local Festivals
Cal-Cam Fair
Sept. 4-6
Sulphur
calcamfair.org
This is one of the few remaining “Old Time Country Fairs” in the state, where almost anything baked, grown, or crafted can be entered, judged and awarded prizes. You’ll also find a livestock show, carnival rides, a beauty pageant, musical entertainment and wildlife exhibits.
South Coast Book Festival
Sept. 12
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Lake Charles Event Center
literarcyswla.org
Formerly the Southwest Louisiana Family Book Festival, the South Coast Book Festival will present an author market space, workshops, kid’s zone, and more.
White Linen Night: A Downtown Gallery Promenade
Sept. 12
5:00-9:00 p.m.
Lake Charles
A collaboration between the City of Lake Charles and the Arts & Humanities Council of SWLA, enjoy an elegant evening of art, music and mingling in downtown Lake Charles. Slip into your freshest white linen and promenade through local galleries, sip a cocktail, shop unique works by regional artists and soak in the charm of downtown—glowing after dark.
International Culture Festival
Sept. 19, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Lake Charles Event Center
Internationalclubswla.com
Enjoy international cuisine, live music, traditional dances from around the work, cultural workshop and activities, and meet people from different cultures.
Lake Charles Film Festival
Oct. 3
Brimstone Museum Annex, Sulphur
The Lake Charles Film Festival offers a weekend of food, music, independent film screenings, an award ceremony for top films and scripts in various categories, seminars, premieres and networking.
Rouge et Blanc
Oct. 11
4:00-7:00 p.m.
McNeese State University
banners.org
Rouge et Blanc is an event series and celebration of food and wine hosted annually by Banners at McNeese State University. This event is the flagship fundraiser for Banners, an arts and cultural program that serves the five-parish area in Southwest Louisiana. Many wine experts and renowned area chefs volunteer to share their expertise with attendees.
Chuck Fest
Oct. 17
noon–10:00 p.m.
chuckfest.org
Lake Charles
With Dave Evans back at the helm, this annual event celebrates the culture of SWLA through food, drink, music and art in downtown Lake Charles.
Mistletoe & Moss
Nov. 20-22
Lake Charles Event Center
jllc.net/mistletoe-moss/
The Junior League of Lake Charles hosts Mistletoe and Moss holiday market annually. It is a one-stop shop for getting your Christmas shopping done.
Flea Fest
Nov. 14-15
Burton Coliseum
This big flea market event is held on nearly four covered acres at Burton Coliseum. With over 300 vendors, it’s a bargain hunter’s dream. Antiques, toys, handcrafted items, furniture, jewelry . . . you never know what you’ll find! Food vendors and a petting zoo also onsite.
Smoke & Barrel
Nov. 19-22
Historical Calcasieu Parish Courthouse Lawn
smokeandbarrel.org
The annual Smoke & Barrel celebration will have two distinct admission areas and feature live musical entertainment. The ticketed VIP area hosts a tasting with over 150 bourbons, scotches and whiskeys and a BBQ tasting featuring creative dishes from some of the top pit-masters in Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas. The general admission area offers BBQ for sale along with batched whiskey cocktails and other beverages for purchase. An amateur BBQ competition will add to the excitement of the day.
