Explore the beautiful grounds of BeauBassin Farm & Gardens in Sunset, Louisiana at their Fall Market event. Shop from local vendors and artisans while enjoying live music and delicious food trucks. There will also be fall photo opportunities and sessions.
In Washington, Louisiana, it’s time to dig in to one of the more avant-garde culinary delicacies of the south, squirrel. At this cook-off hosted by the Gumbo Foundation, local cooks compete with their best family recipes. At the event there’s live music and a silent auction.
Proceeds from this event goes to a family who is unduly burdened with medical costs. Every year, a new beneficiary is chosen. This year, proceeds go to benefit David Morrow. In November 2025, Morrow was diagnosed with Stage IV Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, a cancer that originated in his kidney and has since spread to his lungs, brain, and liver. Since his diagnosis, he has been receiving specialized care at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, often traveling for weeks at a time to undergo treatment.
It’s time! Let me Take You Back to Raphael Pt. 3! On August 16th right off of Prairie Ronde Highway in Lawtell, Louisiana just a few minutes from Opelousas, enjoy wide open skies and secluded countryside at this trail ride event. The ride leaves at 5pm from 163 Raphael Road, Opelousas. Participate in 2×2 single-footing and 2×2 pacing horse races with prizes for the winners. DJ Sensation will play all your zydeco favorites from 8:30pm to 11pm.
It’s going to be a true trail ride celebrating the iconic horsemanship the area is known for, so no horse, no entry. Bikes are allowed, however. This is a BYOB event. There will be free hen sauce while it lasts.
This event is sponsored by Joel Castille Feeds.
The Canoe Races and Anything Over Rice Cook-Off is a full day of fun on Saturday, June 13 at the Bayou Courtableau Boat Ramp in Port Barre. This year, you can bring in your kayaks as well! There will be things to do for all ages with kids activities as well as music, food, and drinks available throughout the day. The cook-off starts at 8am which judging beginning at 1pm and winners announced at 2pm. There’s a category for People’s Choice, so make sure you come hungry and vote for your favorite.
The canoe races start at 10:30am with trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each age category which range from 5 years old and up. It’s a fun way to get out and enjoy the outdoors while exploring the Bayou Courtableau where it merges into the Bayou Teche.
This event is presented by the Port Barre Lions Club. For more information and to register for the cook-off, visit here.
In honor of Black History Month, Guns Down Power Up and the Opelousas Museum are teaming up for a day dedicated to peace, creative expression and youth. The event showcases the work of Guns Down Power Up, an Opelousas Organization that strives to transform neighborhoods into communities by developing children’s minds. The public is invited to observe and participate in the activities on Saturday, February 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
PEACE WALK: At 11 am participants gather at the St. Landry Parish Courthouse with inspiring speeches by city and parish officials and Guns Down founder Eric Williams. The walk will go from the Courthouse to the Opelousas Museum.
MUSEUM ACTIVITIES: Peace Walkers will arrive at the Opelousas Museum for refreshments and activities. Open Mic begins at 1 p.m. with a featured performer. All youth and adults are invited to share poems, stories and songs to celebrate Black History Month and community harmony. Also, Guns Down Power Up will pull out the chess boards for games of strategy and wisdom. All activities relieve stress and promote fellowship.
We seek partners for this event. To donate or become a partner or volunteer, contact event coordinators Eric Williams or Patrice Melnick. The Museum is located at 315 N. Main St.
For Black History Month, join us to walk, speak and play—for peace.
FMI: Eric Williams, 337-401-2545; gunsdownpowerup@gmail.com
Patrice Melnick 337-948-2589; museum@cityofopelousas.com
The Town of Leonville invites you to celebrate the Fourth of July at this free event. With a view of the Bayou Teche at the Leonville Boat Launch, you can enjoy ice cream and snowballs onsite. The Leonville Fire Department will be selling BBQ hotdogs and drinks. Music starts at 6pm and the fireworks at 9pm.
On September 28th at the Yambilee Ag Arena in Opelousas, Louisiana, be prepared for the first spaghetti cook-off hosted by the Opelousas Lions Club. Enjoy a car show, silent auction, and Jeep ride with a petting zoo and pony rides for the kids. Alongside all the great food you can hear live performances by One Trick Pony at 10am and Coteau Grove at 12:30pm.
Taster bands are $5. For more information contact Vicki Thibodeaux 337-351-2412. All proceeds benefit the Opelousas Lions Club.
The Acadiana Junior High and High School Rodeo is a celebration of rodeo tradition, youth talent, and the vibrant culture of St. Landry Parish. They are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of rodeo champions and providing an unforgettable experience for the community. The even returns to the Yambilee Ag Arena in Opelousas, Louisiana from April 17-19.
The return of this rodeo signifies the growth of rodeo among our younger generation of cowboys and cowgirls.
This event will highlight the recent improvements at the St. Landry Ag Arena and St. Landry’s recent title of “Equine Capital of Louisiana.” This spring, we are proud to host over 300 families who will gather to participate in and witness the excitement of the rodeo.
The Acadiana Junior High and High School Rodeo promises a showcase of exceptional talent from junior high and high school students from across the state. Get ready for some tough competition and thrilling performances in a variety of rodeo events, including:
There’s a $10 Entry Fee, but kids 5 and under get in free. Weekend passes are $15.
It’s time to go outside and explore St. Landry Parish’s many waterways with the Take A Kid Fishing Rodeo presented by the Port Barre Lions Club. Catch bass, bream, and sac-au-lait on the Bayou Teche National Water Trail and weigh them in to see who has the best catch. The competition has two divisions: 3 to 9-year-olds and 10 to 16-year-olds. All 18 division winners and the 2 overall winners will receive a tackle box with fishing lures, a ball cap, and 20 oz cups. The Big Bass winner will win a 20-liter ice chest and the Big Odd Fish winner receives a 2-person guided boat fishing trip.
On June 10th, weigh-in starts at noon and ends at 3pm. Winners will be announced at 4pm at the Port Barre Lions Club building. There will be a concession stand and games for the kids as well as a DJ.
The entry fee is $10. Find entry forms and rules on the Port Barre Lions Club Facebook Page or on their website here: Cracklinfest.com/takeakid-fishing
Be sure to mail entry forms, entry fee, & rules and regulations form to: PBLC, PO Box 895, Port Barre, LA 70577.
Games provided by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
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.
