Events in Jackson Louisiana

Looking for top-notch, inexpensive family entertainment, great food, a beautiful outdoor experience and some of the best music in the world? Two words: Louisiana festivals.

More than 400 Louisiana festivals occur each year – which makes it easy to see why Louisiana is often called the Festival Capital of America. We celebrate just about every crop harvested, every indigenous dish, every type of music that's played here – ranging from Cajun and zydeco to Delta blues, New Orleans jazz, Louisiana's own swamp pop, country, salsa and more. Excellent Louisiana food is a given at any festival. And as always, Louisiana festivals offer abundant opportunities for meeting new friends.

Themed festivals range from a Strawberry Festival in Ponchatoula and Tomato Festival in Chalmette to the great Festival International in Lafayette; from the big Contraband Days Pirate Festival in Lake Charles to the Holiday Festival of Lights in Natchitoches. From the Red River Revel in Shreveport to the Catfish Festival in Washington. Of course, you'll want to visit the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or the big family-fun French Quarter Festival.

And for the biggest of them all? That's right, Louisiana is home to Mardi Gras! But that's another story – and a very large one across the state!

Rolling hills around Jackson make for lovely scenic drives between historic sites in the area. Founded in 1815, the town was named for Andrew Jackson following his victory over the British at New Orleans at the end of the War of 1812. Jackson is said to have camped his Tennessee army contingents on Thompson Creek on his return from that battle. The Town of Jackson was the site of two Civil War battles fought in 1863 during the Union siege of Port Hudson. One of these battles is commemorated each year with the Battle of Jackson Crossroads reenactment. A wealth of 19th-century architecture helped Jackson become a National Historic District, making it a good place to browse and sightsee.