Cyclist at the Cankton Country Bar during Cycle Zydeco

On the far southern border of St. Landry Parish lies the Village of Cankton. For adventurers who’d prefer the road less traveled, this small town is located along scenic Highway 93. While you’re there, take the opportunity to chat with locals and hear the story of Dr. Louis Aristide “Cank” Guidry. As a boy, Guidry would signal his family that he was home from a hunt by using the duck call “Cank, cank, cank.” His folks would say, “Cank est revenu,” (Cank is back) and the name stuck.

St. John Berchmans Church, circa 1925, is a Catholic church named in honor of the saint who’s apparition was seen at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau. This church was designed by Jesuit Brother Brinkhaus who based the architectural features off of the St. Charles Borromeo Church also in Grand Coteau.

Every year, cyclists also visit this village to relax and pop open a cold, crisp beer at Cankton Café during Cycle Zydeco. The non-competitive bike ride takes place in the spring and runs through Cankton and other towns throughout St. Landry Parish and the entire Acadiana region.

Cankton is more than a pit stop town with a pretty church, however. In 2025, the Louisiana Legislature designated the Village of Cankton as the “Accordion Capital of Louisiana” due to its associations with the “Queen of Cajun Music” Sheryl Cormier, acclaimed Cajun accordionist Belton Richard, accordion maker Leland Colligan, and more celebrated accordionists like Clarence “junior” Martin, Phil Menard, Mack Comeaux, Alex Touchet, and Felix Richard and his son Sterling Richard.

RaiKwon Green Performing at the Louisiana Mosquito Festival.

2026 marked the inaugural Cankton Accordion Festival inspired by these deep cultural connections to Cajun music and by extension the accordion. This annual event features live music performances throughout the day with food, dancing, and kids activities.

The Cankton Accordion Festival isn’t the only festival in the small village. Anyone who has stepped foot in the South knows of the prevalence of mosquitos, but only Louisiana would dedicate a whole festival to the little bloodsuckers. The Louisiana Mosquito Festival is a day of Cajun music, fun, delicious food, and community spirit. Proceeds from this event go to benefit the town’s volunteer firefighters.

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