Festival season kicks into high gear in the fall

In Louisiana, fall’s arrival is signaled by many things: cheers of “Geaux Tigers” and “Who Dat,” large black pots of steaming gumbo, and a social calendar jam-packed with fairs and festivals.

Fall is festival season in Louisiana, and every corner of the state takes part. There are as many different fall festivals as there are varieties of Louisiana po-boys. In fact, New Orleans even hosts a festival dedicated to those beloved sandwiches—the Po-Boy Preservation Festival is each November.

A highlight of the 2011 fall festival season is Grand Réveil Acadien, a 10-day celebration spanning from New Orleans and Houma to Lafayette and Lake Charles. The event is dedicated to promoting and preserving Louisiana’s rich Acadian heritage and customs. Acadians, today called Cajuns, were exiled to Louisiana from Nova Scotia in 1755.

From October 7-16, the four host cities will provide a variety of events. In the New Orleans area, enjoy swamp, plantation, and walking tours. Dig deeper into the Cajun way of life in Houma during their Gathering of Acadians Presentation, and then sample Cajun food and music at their free Voice of the Wetlands Festival.

In Lake Charles, travel the Boudin Trail and discover the delicious sausages of Cajun country. They’ll be hosting other events, including a day of seminars, tastings, music and dancing at the Lake Charles Civic Center on October 11.

Grand Réveil Acadien culminates with the free, three-day Festivals Acadiens et Créoles in Lafayette’s Girard Park, October 14-16. This is really three festivals in one, each celebrating a different aspect of Cajun culture. During the Festival de Musique Acadienne, hear the best in Cajun and zydeco music. At the Bayou Food Festival, satisfy your appetite for the region’s distinctive flavors, and shop handmade items during the Louisiana Craft Fair. 

But the fun doesn’t end here. Throughout the fall, check out festivals such as the Jim Bowie Festival in Vidalia, September 23-24, or the Red River Revel in Shreveport, October 1-8. Fill up at one of the food festivals, like the Gumbo Festival of Chackbay, October 21-23, or the Giant Omelette Celebration in Abbeville, November 5-6. And learn about Louisiana’s other cultures at festivals such as the Louisiana Indian Heritage Association Pow Wow in Gonzales, November 19-20.

To find more of our fall festivals, visit our events calendar.