Lafayette Parish

Though it's among the smallest parishes, Lafayette plays a huge role in the image of south Louisiana thanks to its deep history and robust heritage. The city of Lafayette is a destination for travelers exploring the Acadiana region and puts immense cultural resources within easy reach—such as museums and the restored Vermilionville and Acadian Village to art galleries and concert halls. The largest festivals in Lafayette swirl around music. Performers from across the globe converge for the Festival International in April, while Francophone lyrics rule at the Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, a celebration all things bon vivant held in October. The Downtown Alive! series brings crowds out on Friday evenings in spring and fall for free concerts. The area's rich culinary and music traditions are also on display at restaurants, markets and dance halls along the main streets of surrounding towns such as Broussard, Carencro, Duson, Scott and Youngsville.