16 Mar 2023

Toby’s Jambalaya Cook-Off and Car Show Benefit

2023-03-23T11:18:02-05:00

On April 15, Toby’s Downtown in Opelousas is hosting a Jambalaya Cook-Off and Car Show. Contestants can show off their cooking skills and compete to have the title of the best jambalaya around all the while vintage and nonvintage cars line Toby’s lot. Eat great food and have fun seeing all the vibrant and souped-up vehicles. From 11am-2pm LA99 will perform live with more performances to come including Don Rich at 8:30pm with a $15 cover charge.

Registration is at 8am and is $50 for the cook-off, $25 to register for the car show, $20 bike/jeep, and $10 passenger. There is no entrance fee for the grounds. They only ask for donations for the jambalaya. Proceeds from the event go to benefit medical expenses for Stuart Fontenot.

Parking for the event will be across from Toby’s.

Toby’s Jambalaya Cook-Off and Car Show Benefit2023-03-23T11:18:02-05:00
1 Mar 2023

Black Pot Cook-Off

2023-04-19T13:42:29-05:00

The Black Pot Cook-Off is a family-friendly event taking place at the Yambilee Ag Arena in Opelousas. Enjoy a live performance by Mathew Ewing and the All-Star Band and taste the best of good ole, amazing Louisiana black pot cooking.

Admission is $5, but kids 12 and under can enter for free. For more information, you can call 337-945-3062 or 337-290-0837

Black Pot Cook-Off2023-04-19T13:42:29-05:00
10 Feb 2023

Cajun Prairie Society Boucherie

2023-07-21T12:15:16-05:00

The Cajun Prairie Society is hosting their very own boucherie on Saturday, March 18th starting at 9am with the festivities continuing into the next day.

Patrons that join in for both days will have the opportunity to be involved in the entire process from harvesting to cooking. Living through these authentic traditional activities lends you a better appreciation of the sacrifice that farmers and their livestock give every day.

For those coming only on Sunday, you will see the processing and complex array of dishes prepared with the meat from the freshly harvested pig. Live music, food, and drink will be provided for the celebration. The activities will start in the morning and cooking will continue all day with dishes prepared for lunch and throughout the afternoon and evening.

A boucherie is a community coming together to harvest an animal. Due to the intensive labor involved in whole animal butchering, a farmer would call upon friends, family, and neighbors to assist in the task. This day of work turns into a celebration, with plenty of food, music, and spirits to go around. No one went home hungry or empty-handed. With the lack of refrigeration, this was the only time that fresh meat could be consumed. Most of the meat butchered at a boucherie was processed with the intent of preservation, with the understanding that not a single aspect of the sacrificed beast would be wasted. These are the core fundamentals of Cajun cuisine. Boudin and boudin noir, gratons, fraisseurs, saucisse de voile, backbone fricasse, head cheese, tasso, chaudin, panse and saucisse de graisse are all products of this philosophy.

Tent camping spots are available.

General Admission tickets for both days are $100 or $75 for Cajun Prairie Society Members. Sunday-only tickets are $30. To purchase discounted tickets for ‘Cajun Prairie Society members’ please visit www.CajunPrairie.org and sign up for a membership before purchasing a member ticket.

Funds raised from this event will go to a Cajun Prairie documentary that is currently under production. Participation in this event will directly help the goals of the Cajun Prairie Society in their efforts to preserve, manage and teach about the native prairie of the region.

Cajun Prairie Society Boucherie2023-07-21T12:15:16-05:00
27 Jan 2023

Willie’s Mardi Gras Trail Ride

2023-01-27T14:41:26-06:00

Willie’s in the historic town of Washington, Louisiana is hosting a Mardi Gras Trailride and Chicken Run on Superbowl Sunday, February 12. The trail ride will leave from Willie’s at 8am and travel along Hwy 182 and Hwy 745 before coming back to the American Legion by 1:30pm where the chicken chase will begin. Participants will collect gumbo ingredients from houses along the route like the traditional begging rituals of old.

Presale tickets are $15 but $20 on the day of. Kids 6 and under are free. Call Kayla at 337-307-0323 for more information.

Willie’s Mardi Gras Trail Ride2023-01-27T14:41:26-06:00
20 Jan 2023

La Rivière Mardi Gras Chicken Run and Parade

2024-12-16T16:15:11-06:00

Head to Krotz Springs, Louisiana for the second La Rivière Mardi Gras Chicken Run and Parade taking place right along the Atchafalaya River at Riverview RV Park & Resort.

The parade itself departs at 9am from Riverview RV Park & Resort and heads North on Hwy 105 until it enters the town of Krotz Springs and travels through the town until heading back to Riverview. There will be an intermission at Nall Park with boudin and a bowl of gumbo available at the end. Women and children can participate in the parade but will have a separate chicken chase once the Mardi Gras Run returns to Riverview.

This event is cash only. General Admission is $10 and includes live music once the parade returns. If you’d like to participate in the trail ride it’s $20 and $20 for the chicken run.

La Rivière Mardi Gras Chicken Run and Parade2024-12-16T16:15:11-06:00
22 Dec 2022

Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week

2025-03-06T12:55:07-06:00

The 22nd Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week will take place March 25-28, 2025, in Eunice, Louisiana at Lakeview Park & Beach with a Louisiana French Immersion experience at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center that Monday, March 24th.  Highlights include top-notch Louisiana-style entertainment, education, and hospitality with public and enrollment-based activities.  The schedule, Camp registration, and lodging information are found at LAfolkroots.org.

WHY BALFA WEEK?

Balfa Week classes are immersive, multi-day lessons and workshops that have you studying face-to-face with master musicians, cooks, and craftspeople in a nature-based setting. Spontaneous jams, lakeside campfires, new friends from around the world.

Schedule a one-to-one lesson with Louisiana master musicians to conquer a tune that’s stuck in your head. Discuss the creative process with Louisiana folk craft artisans. Learn some tricks for Louisiana cooking during sessions with regional chefs. Imagine yourself peeling and eating a pile of crawfish. Wander into the nightly barn dances with friends to test out moves you practiced in dance class.

That weekend, play in the music jam and sample great food at the 38th Annual World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cookoff, and explore cultural events in the region.

Housing options are available. Bring your RV, rent or share a deluxe cabin, pitch a tent, or stay at a local B&B or hotel. Visit Evangeline Parish Tourism and St. Landry Parish Tourism for more ideas.

Tuition rates range from a Full-Time 5-day rate to a Daily rate.

Friends of Folk Roots membership discounts are offered on Registrations.

Play. Dance Eat. Repeat. That’s Balfa Week! Get details at: balfaweek@gmail.com 

Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week2025-03-06T12:55:07-06:00
16 Dec 2022

Enjoy the Music Pre New Year’s Eve Party

2023-01-19T13:16:06-06:00

The “Enjoy the Music” Pre-New year’s Eve Party is an epic concert taking place in Opelousas, Louisiana on December 30th at 8pm that continues into the next day ending at 1am. Enjoy live bands, singers, and more at the Charming Event Center located at 515 W. Martin Luther King Dr. in Opelousas. Featuring performances by artists, music producers, and radio personalities, McKayovee, Jamster Ev, Je, LTN-Ant & LTN Teezy, and NWojak with more artists performing on the day.

Presale tickets are $15 for general admission and $20 for VIP. At the door, tickets will be $20 for general admission and $30 for VIP.

Enjoy the Music Pre New Year’s Eve Party2023-01-19T13:16:06-06:00
30 Nov 2022

Country and Western Night

2022-12-29T10:41:01-06:00

Jason Williams and Clint Robin perform for Country and Western Night at Musique’s Southern Cuisine Bar & Grill in Opelousas. From 6pm-9pm, you can enjoy good music while you eat delicious food. Musique’s is famous for its shrimp fried rice, but they also have tasty burgers, fried fish, and more comfort food than you can eat.

Country and Western Night2022-12-29T10:41:01-06:00
1 Nov 2022

Drawn to Grow Exhibit Reception

2022-11-01T10:36:23-05:00

Join us at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center at Exit 23 right off of I-49 to view Kelli Foret Richard’s most recent work, Drawn to Grow. This exhibit of 57 illustrations is a statement on the 57 years left of farming the region has until it reaches desertification. The exhibit is both emphasizes the importance of agriculture to Louisiana and a call to action for better farming practices. Hear from the artist herself at the reception on Saturday, November 5 from 1pm-4pm at the visitor center right outside of Opelousas.

Drawn to Grow Exhibit Reception2022-11-01T10:36:23-05:00
10 Oct 2022

Washington Christmas Concert

2023-11-17T10:25:29-06:00

Get a little Christmas cheer from the Opelousas Queen of Angels Choir. They’ll be performing traditional Christmas music in Washington, Louisiana at St. John Episcopal’s Church on the first Saturday in December at 6pm. Admission is free. You will not want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind event.

This event is sponsored by the Washington Garden Club.

Washington Christmas Concert2023-11-17T10:25:29-06:00
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