Festival Archives - Page 3 of 3 - St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission

4 Mar 2022

Sunset Herb & Garden Festival
Sunset Herb & Garden Festival

Sunset Herb & Garden Festival

Eight Hats2025-07-29T16:01:08-05:00

For over 20 years, the Sunset Garden Club has hosted the Annual Sunset Herb & Garden Festival in Sunset, Louisiana. Over the decades, the wide selection of plants and herbs continues to impress garden enthusiasts. Step outside with your kids, friends, or even spend an afternoon with Mom and Dad. Festival vendors specialize in a variety of plants. Because of this, they can answer your questions about growing and cultivation. Some festival favorites include hibiscus, grasses, fruit trees, bromeliads, orchids, ferns, succulents, roses, and a whole lot more. If that seems overwhelming, don’t worry. Master Gardeners are on-site. These experts present informative presentations while leaving time for a Q&A.

Local crafts, handmade yard art, and herbal bath and body products can also be found on the grounds for sale. First-timers should know that plants go fast. The saying is true; the early bird gets the worm. You may also want to bring a wagon to store plants and items while you shop. This celebration isn’t just for adults. The Kid’s Corner features fun jumps, face-painting, and other engaging activities. Kids can also visit the fairy garden or meet some of the beekeepers or agricultural vendors on site.

The Sunset Herb & Garden Festival is held on the first Saturday in May every year in Sunset. The festival grounds are located on Marie Street, across from the old Sunset High School. Parking is available behind the school, on Sibille Street. Traffic will be directed to this location, so just follow the cars!

Funds raised by this annual festival are used for town beautification projects facilitated by the Sunset Garden Club. Admission is $5, but children 6 and under get in for free. Sunday is always the rain date for this event.

Need overnight accommodations? Find hotels, RV parks, and B&Bs here.

Sunset Herb & Garden FestivalEight Hats2025-07-29T16:01:08-05:00

4 Mar 2022

Congé
Congé

Congé

Eight Hats2025-02-28T09:47:13-06:00

Congé is a spring celebration held on the breathtaking grounds of the Academy of the Sacred Heart and Berchmans Academy in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. Toss some confetti eggs with the kids as you play carnival games or test yourselves on the rock wall. There will also be games, live music, fantastic food, a silent auction, and a raffle.

The Congé Easter Egg hunt starts at 10am. Your child can take pictures with the Easter Bunny and find as many eggs as they can carry.

CongéEight Hats2025-02-28T09:47:13-06:00

4 Mar 2022

Halloween Art & Nature Fest
Halloween Art & Nature Fest

Halloween Art & Nature Fest

Eight Hats2025-11-26T15:02:02-06:00

Celebrate Halloween at this festival on the last Saturday in October from 11am-4pm at Atelier de la Nature. The nature preserve is located along the Corridor des Arts near Arnaudville. At this free event, parents have a great opportunity for their kids to celebrate Halloween safely. Learn about the importance of the environment while also celebrating Halloween through art, music, food & science.

Be a part of this event by volunteering or as a vendor by emailing info@atelierdelanature.org.

Halloween Art & Nature FestEight Hats2025-11-26T15:02:02-06:00

4 Mar 2022

Sweet Dough Pie Festival
Sweet Dough Pie Festival

Sweet Dough Pie Festival

Eight Hats2025-10-31T14:52:28-05:00

Celebrate the history of Grand Coteau and a traditional Louisiana treat called the sweet dough pie. Every year, pastry chefs and home cooks vie to be the best in the sweet dough pie contest where the public is the judge. A large variety of pies are available for purchase. Some favorites include fig, custard, lemon, blackberry, and other local, seasonal ingredients. Browse through over 100 vendors with art, handmade items, flowers and herbs, custom furniture, indoor and outdoor decor, and more.

Take a self-guided tour around the town of Grand Coteau, passing by: St. Ignatius School, the St. Peter Claver complex, the Schools of the Sacred Heart, and St. Charles Church and cemetery. This picturesque cemetery, with ancient Live Oaks and Spanish Moss, is the final resting place of the first African American Mayor for the State of Louisiana since Reconstruction, the woman the St. Charles church bell was named after, historical gravesites of our war veterans, and many renowned Jesuit priests.

The Sweet Dough Pie Festival is the last Saturday of October. For information on the sweet dough contest, becoming a vendor or visiting the festival call 337.331.6352. This is a free event, but parking is $5.

Click here for nearby accommodations.

Sweet Dough Pie FestivalEight Hats2025-10-31T14:52:28-05:00

4 Mar 2022

Port Barre Cracklin Festival
Port Barre Cracklin Festival

Port Barre Cracklin Festival

Eight Hats2025-11-26T14:56:43-06:00

There’s only one thing Louisiana loves more than boudin, and that’s cracklins! A cracklin is pork rind’s bigger, better, and tastier sibling. This popular, southern snack is made by deep-frying chunks of pork in its own rendered oil…twice. While you can find cracklins in almost every local grocery or gas station stop in St. Landry Parish, there’s one place you have to go to get them fresh.

The Port Barre Lions Club is thrilled to announce the 40th Annual Cracklin Festival, set to take place on the second full weekend in November at Veterans Memorial Park in Port Barre, Louisiana. This beloved community event celebrates the rich Cajun heritage of Acadiana and offers a weekend filled with family-friendly activities, local cuisine, and live entertainment offering a lively mix of Cajun, Zydeco, and country music to keep the crowd dancing all weekend long.

The Cracklin Festival is a showcase of Louisiana’s iconic culinary tradition—cracklins—and serves as a vital fundraiser for the Port Barre Lions Club, supporting various charitable initiatives in the community. The cook-off has two categories, pork and chicken cracklins and there are two divisions, amateur and professional. We are giving awards for the best decorated booths as well.

Enjoy local delicacies beyond cracklins, including gumbo, jambalaya, and boudin, while browsing handcrafted goods from talented artisans.

Featuring contestants from across the region, their youth pageant celebrates the spirit of Acadiana and honoring the young women of the community. Official Crowning will be held at the festival grounds for the new 2026 Miss & Teen Cracklin Festival Queens.

Who doesn’t like a good hometown parade? Every year our Cracklin Festival Parade rolls down Saizan Ave with our Festival King and Queen, visiting festival royalty, local school and community groups, even a few campaigning politicians every now and then. Come join us for all of fun!

The Cracklin Festival is a major fundraising effort for the Port Barre Lions Club, with proceeds supporting numerous local projects, scholarships, and charitable causes throughout the year. With a commitment to service, the Lions Club also runs various outreach programs focused on vision health and disaster relief for the local community.

The Port Barre Lions Club was founded with a mission to serve, the Port Barre Lions Club has a long-standing history of community involvement and outreach. The Cracklin Festival is just one of many ways the Port Barre Lions Club brings people together to celebrate local culture while giving back.

The Port Barre Lions Club invites everyone to join the celebration and experience the unique charm of the Cracklin Festival. Mark your calendars and bring your family and friends to enjoy the best of Cajun culture and cuisine. For more information, please visit our website or follow us on social media for updates.

Contact:

Port Barre Lions Club

Email: cracklinfest@yahoo.com

Phone: 337-692-3311

Website: https://cracklinfest.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portbarrelions

Please note: For safety purposes and to ensure everyone has a fun and safe experience, we will be enforcing a Clear Bag Policy this year. Clear bags must be no larger than 12″x6″x12″. Small clutch bags are allowed (no larger than 4.5″x6.5″). Diaper bags are permitted with an accompanying infant, but they will be subject to search. No backpacks, purses, or other opaque bags will be allowed.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! Let’s make this year’s festival a memorable and safe event for all.

Port Barre Cracklin FestivalEight Hats2025-11-26T14:56:43-06:00

4 Mar 2022

Festival of Words
Festival of Words

Festival of Words

Eight Hats2025-11-26T15:00:13-06:00

The Festival of Words is held in Grand Coteau. Celebrate the written word with open mics throughout the year that culminate in this two-day festival. Sharpen your craft with creative writing workshops hosted by published authors. There will also be a community stage for open mic and “Drive-by Poetry”. At this event, youth give dramatic presentations of festival authors’ writings.

Features for last year’s Festival of Words were:

Sheryl St. Germain, a native of New Orleans, she has taught at The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Knox College, Iowa State University and Chatham University, where she served as Director of the MFA in Creative Writing for 14 years. She is the co-founder and former Director of the Words Without Walls Program, which for over ten years trained graduate students to teach creative writing in prisons, jails and rehabilitation centers. Her work has received several awards, including two NEA Fellowships, an NEH Fellowship, the Dobie-Paisano Fellowship, the Ki Davis Award from the Aspen Writers Foundation, and the William Faulkner Award for the personal essay. She was named Louisiana Writer of the Year in November 2018.
Gabriel Houck is originally from New Orleans, and his first collection, You or a Loved One, won the 2017 Orison Fiction Prize, judged by David Haynes. Stories from this collection — “The Dot Matrix: and “When the Time Came” — were shortlisted as distinguished stories in the 2017 and 2015 editions of The Best American Short Stories, respectively. Prior to teaching at the University of Louisiana, he served as the Emory University Arts Fellow in Fiction from 2019-2023, and has received scholarships and fellowships from the Tin House Workshops, the Sewanee Writers Workshop, the Vermont Studio Center, Longleaf Writers Conference, the UCROSS Foundation, and the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. His creative work appears in journals such as Glimmer Train, West Branch, The Sewanee Review, The Chattahoochee Review, Mid American Review, Western Humanities Review, The Cimarron Review, Smokelong Quarterly, and most recently in the Driftwood Press 2024 Anthology. Gabriel lives in Lafayette, with a yard that would be perfect for a good rescue dog.
Gina Ferrara has maintained a consistent presence in the local poetry scene. She recalls a time before Hurricane Katrina when poetry readings were abundant, with events happening almost every night of the week. One of the most popular, the Maple Leaf Reading Series at the Maple Leaf Bar, is still active and remains the longest-running poetry series in the country. Ferrara even met her husband at a poetry reading, as well as forged many lifelong friendships through readings. She has also curated The Poetry Buffet since 2007, a monthly event featuring various poets, which she considers an essential way to bring poetry to the community. Her involvement in poetry has taken her beyond New Orleans, with opportunities to read and study in cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. She was even awarded a grant to study and perform in Ireland. While grateful for these experiences, Ferrara remains deeply rooted in the local literary community.

Find their full schedule here.

Find nearby accommodations here.

Festival of WordsEight Hats2025-11-26T15:00:13-06:00

4 Mar 2022

Holy Ghost Creole Festival
Holy Ghost Creole Festival

Holy Ghost Creole Festival

Eight Hats2025-11-26T14:58:17-06:00

Experience Creole culture at the Holy Ghost Creole Festival in Opelousas, Louisiana. Every year, the festival takes place on the first full weekend of November and kicks off on Friday morning with finger-lickin’ fried catfish. That night, experience gospel hymns featuring several choir groups from Holy Ghost Catholic Church.

Saturday, the festival grounds open early with live music and more Creole food to sample including their famous backbone stew and barbeque pork steak. Dinner tickets may be purchased at the Church Parish Office until the day of the event, or you may purchase tickets on the grounds. That morning, participate in the 5k run or 1-mile fun walk to prepare for a day of amazing food. Pies, boudin, cracklins, and other great local foods will be sold each day of the festival. All-day long, hear zydeco music bands under the music tent, but be sure to take a break to seek out the festival’s famous sweet dough pies. Holy Ghost volunteers spend hours preparing and baking this local treat because they are just too tempting to pass up.

Sunday, join the locals in celebrating their Creole heritage at the Creole Festival Parade. The route runs from Landry Street all the way to Union Street. Feel free to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to enjoy the parade.

Click here for nearby accommodations.

Holy Ghost Creole FestivalEight Hats2025-11-26T14:58:17-06:00

4 Mar 2022

Cankton Courir de Mardi Gras
Cankton Courir de Mardi Gras

Cankton Courir de Mardi Gras

Eight Hats2025-11-05T15:05:51-06:00

Join the celebration at the 6th Annual Crew of Cankton Courir De Mardi Gras! Get ready for a day of lively festivities, mouthwatering gumbo, and a Chicken Run-Trail Ride that promises adventure and excitement.

The vibrant spirit of Mardi Gras is coming alive at the Landon Pitre Memorial Park in Cankton, just a few minutes south of Sunset. Entry fee is $5 per person at the gate.

Showcase your culinary mastery at their gumbo cook-off. Gather your team, bring your secret recipes, and compete for the title of Gumbo Champion. The entry fee is $60 per team, and the cooking starts at 9:00 AM. Make sure your creations are ready for judging at 1:30 PM – may the best gumbo win.

Embark on an unforgettable Chicken Run-Trail Ride, departing from the park at 9:00 AM. Get your costumes ready, as both top and bottom attire are required. Let the good times roll as you traverse scenic trails and embrace the thrill of the ride. The cost is $20 per person – a small price for a day full of memories and camaraderie.

Don’t forget to dress to impress. Costumes are a key ingredient to the Mardi Gras magic. From colorful feathers to sparkly sequins, let your creativity shine. While masks and capuchons aren’t required, feel free to add those finishing touches to elevate your ensemble.

Get ready to dance the day away because there will be live music by Dylan Aucoin starting at 2:30 PM until 5:30 PM with a live DJ starting at 9:00 AM. Stay tuned for announcements on the incredible musical acts that will be providing the soundtrack to our Mardi Gras celebration.

All proceeds benefit the Louisiana Special Olympics.

Cankton Courir de Mardi GrasEight Hats2025-11-05T15:05:51-06:00

Choose Your Destination!

Find Your Festival!

Embrace the Culture!

Get Cozy in Cajun Country!

Warm Your Soul!

Map Your Adventure!

Sunset Herb & Garden Festival

Sunset Herb & Garden Festival

Congé

Congé

Halloween Art & Nature Fest

Halloween Art & Nature Fest

Sweet Dough Pie Festival

Sweet Dough Pie Festival

Port Barre Cracklin Festival

Port Barre Cracklin Festival

Festival of Words

Festival of Words

Holy Ghost Creole Festival

Holy Ghost Creole Festival

Cankton Courir de Mardi Gras

Cankton Courir de Mardi Gras