Beauregard Parish

Beauregard Parish was once part of a disputed corridor between Spanish-controlled Texas and America's newly-acquired lands of the Louisiana Purchase, and today visitors can still find much of both Texas and Louisiana in the area's heritage. Rodeos are year-round draws to the Beauregard Parish Covered Arena and in October the Beauregard Parish Fair, one of the oldest agricultural fairs in the state, takes over the Fairgrounds. The parish's largest city, DeRidder, is also known as the hub of west Louisiana canoe country thanks to the nearby bayous and rivers offering ideal paddling conditions. Watermelons are the pride of the Sugartown farming community, and the sweet summer fruit is well-feted at the Beauregard Parish Watermelon Festival each June. In addition to history exhibits, the Beauregard Museum is home to a collection of more than 3,000 antique dolls, and DeRidder hosts the Louisiana Doll Festival for enthusiasts and collectors in April.