(KTAL/KMSS) – Tourists travel from all over the world to enjoy Louisiana’s rich festival culture. Why not be a visitor to events in your home state?
Explore Louisiana compiled a list of the 10 festivals that are must-visit destinations.
Whether you are drawn to the music, the atmosphere, or the food – obviously, it’s the food – Louisiana knows how to have a good time.
Louisiana has an array of homegrown agriculture that is so delicious we have to celebrate it, which is why the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival is on the list. Ponchatoula touts itself as the “Strawberry Capital of the World” and celebrates the sweet berry with its own festival. The family-friendly event offers old-fashioned fun like sack races, strawberry-based foods, and drinks you won’t know what to do with yourself.
So, if you love strawberries, do yourself a favor and visit Ponchatoula in April and get yourself a pint or a pallet of Louisiana-grown strawberries.
Lafayette is home to Festival International de Louisiane, one of the state’s premier multicultural events. Every April, downtown Lafayette becomes an international music hub featuring live performances, street musicians, arts and crafts boutiques, and more.
What was once a smaller festival and favorite of locals now boasts 20 stages and performances by musicians of every stripe. The French Quarter Festival in New Orleans is a significant cost alternative to the Jazz Fest – which is a great festival, but when money is tight – the French Quarter Fest is the next best thing. Fantastic food, great people, and the New Orleans riverfront await you during this annual festival where admission is free, but the food is not, so bring your money.
South Louisiana is home to some of the best-tasting seafood in the world, so it is a no-brainer that the Louisiana Catfish Festival in Des Allemands has made the list.
Get ready to dance to Zydeco music and fill your belly with mudbugs at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival. The festival runs May 3, 4, and 5.
Shreveport’s Red River Revel made the list and is recognized as the largest outdoor festival in North Louisiana. The Revel pairs music and arts to create a one-of-a-kind experience with four music stages. There is also a children’s area where younger visitors can take a break and make artistic expressions of their own.
Crowley is known for its rice production, which leads us to the International Rice Festival. Since 1937, the festival has featured a rice-eating contest, carnival, pageant, and parade, and no Louisiana celebration is complete without music.
Also held in September is the Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival, which pays tribute to the town’s music history.
Do you love French cuisine? You should attend the French Food Festival in Larose, where Cajun life meets French tradition in a bowl.
Last but certainly not least is the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. From Thanksgiving to the New Year, the city of Natchitoches is adorned with more than 300,000 lights for the festival. During the festival, you can enjoy Christmas-themed performances, a spectacular fireworks show, or a romantic carriage ride.
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