Calcasieu Parish

Cajun fiddles, Zydeco accordions and swamp pop guitars get dance halls across Calcasieu Parish shaking, while casino complexes in Lake Charles and Westlake and the Delta Downs horseracing track in Vinton hum with gaming action and resort amenities. Quieter pursuits await on Calcasieu's many golf courses, on waterways for canoeing and fishing and along the open spaces beneath one of the continent's busiest migratory bird flyways. From fine restaurants to local joints, southwest Louisiana cuisine lives up to its famous reputation with staples like boudin sausage and local seafood. Mardi Gras is a seasonal highlight across the parish, with grand parades and costumed balls in Lake Charles and the rural traditions of smaller communities. More than 75 annual festivals pack the Calcasieu calendar, including the two-week-long Contraband Days Pirate Festival in Lake Charles and the Christmas parades and holiday light displays in communities like Sulphur, DeQuincy, Iowa and Moss Bluff.