Culture in Jennings Louisiana

When you make a list of all the unique things Louisiana has to offer visitors, you quickly see the long-lasting influences of our French, Spanish and African ancestry. Our past is well-preserved in our architecture, music, food and lifestyles—which include our amazing festivals—and of course in our museums of history and fine arts.

It is not an accident that Louisiana clings to the phrase "Laissez les bons temps rouler," meaning "Let the good times roll". Let yourself get lost in the traditions passed down through generations. Come visit us during Mardi Gras when costumed riders parade and magnificent balls are thrown from New Orleans and Baton Rouge to Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport and beyond. Peek back across the centuries, as you walk under lavish ironwork and through the lush courtyard gardens of a meticulous French Quarter hotel. Touch history with a tour of a plantation where the daily activities of the past are recreated. Let nature's mysteries inspire and awe you via a boat tour through a cypress studded bayou.

Here, in Louisiana, history and lore don't merely live in books on a shelf; they're reflected in our everyday lives.

Founded as a railroad depot midway between the larger cities of Lafayette and Lake Charles, Jennings today offers plenty of reasons to stop and explore. Cajun heritage thrives in local restaurants, music venues and festivals. Birding, hunting and water sports abound in the countryside, while downtown offers a host of unique attractions. The Zigler Museum, in particular, has been stunning visitors with its world-class art collection housed in a colonial-era home. The Strand Theatre, a 1930's-era movie house, now showcases performing arts, including a long-running, live country music variety show held each month. The Gator Chateau gives the public an up-close alligator encounter in a protected habitat, and the W.H. Tupper General Merchandise Museum presents a time capsule of mid-century country life, including an exhibit on the history of the telephone. Today's farmers bring their produce, preserves and crafts to the Jennings Main Street Farmers Market each Saturday morning.