THROUGH 2017

Taste of Breaux Bridge Covington Crawfish Buku Music and Festival Festival Breaux Art Project New Covington Bridge Orleans French Quarter Mid-City Bayou Congo Square Festival New Boogaloo New New World Orleans Orleans Rhythms Covington New Orleans Festival New March 31-April 2 Orleans Antiques Wine & Food and Uniques Experience Dave Robicheaux’s Tennessee Festival New Orleans Williams Covington Contraband Hometown Literary Literary Abita Springs Days-Louisiana Festival New Festival Orleans Busker Festival Pirate Festival Abita Springs Lake Charles One of Louisiana’s newest festivals Taco Fest New Orleans New Orleans Starks Mayhaw The awe-inspiring diversity of Louisiana celebrates fictional detective Dave Jazz and Festival Starks Robicheaux, the rule-breaking Cajun Spring Fiesta Heritage Cochon de sheriff’s deputy who appears in nu- New Orleans Festival New is easily taken for granted. A quick survey Orleans Lait Festival merous novels by best-selling author Louisiana Mansura James Lee Burke. Dave Robicheaux’s Winter Beer Dave Mudbug Hometown Literary Festival, Festival Lake Robicheaux’s of the state’s spring festivals — Louisiana Charles Hometown Madness launched in 2016, invites fans of Shreveport Literary Burke’s detective novels to explore Annual Black Festival New Greek Festival Heritage is home to more annual festivals than the character’s hometown haunts Iberia New Orleans Festival Lake like Shadows-on-the-Teche and New Orleans Charles Louisiana Victor’s Cafeteria during guided bus Railroad Jambalaya there are days in the year — is an apt tours. There’s also an academic sym- Cajun Chili Fest Days Festival Youngsville Festival posium on Burke’s life and career, a DeQuincy Gonzales book fair with author appearances Iowa Rabbit Downtown reminder that there’s no place like the Lake Marion and book signings, and even a Cajun Festival Lake Charles Charles Mayhaw bourré tournament. This being New Crawfish Festival Marion Iberia, there are plenty of opportuni- Wild Beast Festival Lake state that we call home. Here are a few Riverboat ties to sample local food (including Feast Lake Charles Charles Festival a cochon de lait) and dance to Cajun Southern Columbia of Louisiana’s best festivals for mingling Dave Garden Festival and zydeco music while enjoying Jeff Fish Fest Robicheaux’s Lafayette scenic views of Bayou Teche. Burke, & Rodeo River Hometown who spent summers in New Iberia Westlake Ridge with the locals, dancing like you’re not Literary Family Fun & as a child, did not attend the festival New Festival Food Festival in its first year — but hundreds of his Iberia Westlake on Facebook or connecting with your fans did. Youth Art Flea Fest: Flea Lake Arthur Month Festival Market Lake Where: New Iberia Historic District Alexandria Regatta Lake Charles Arthur roots — whether they’re in Senegal or Tickets: Many events are free, other Scottish Grand Isle events $15-$60 FestiGals New Tartan Festival Migratory Bird More Info: Shreveport Orleans Sicily. By Chris Jay Festival Grand daverobicheauxliteraryfestival.com Isle

MARCH 18 APRIL 7-8 JUNE 3 Louisiana Franklin Parish Bon Mangé May 4-7 Redbud Catfish Festival Festival Gheens Festival Vivian Winnsboro Louisiana Grillin’ for DoMo Thibodaux Louisiana Redbud Grads Brewfest Lagniappe Bayou Teche Catfish Festival Firemen’s Fair Dulcimer Black Bear and Des Allemands Festival Festival Baton Birding Festival A 30-foot tall inflatable hog Launched in 2015 as a Rouge Franklin Wednesdays on Thibodaux is home to the largest the Point New Small-town festivals welcomes visitors to Grillin’ fundraiser benefiting for Grads, a barbecue cook- the Downtown Monroe volunteer fire department fundraiser Louisiana Baton Rouge Orleans (Algiers) don’t come much more Crawfish Blues Festival in the United States: The Thibodaux Cajun Heritage off and college scholarship Alliance, DoMo Brewfest Festival Baton Rouge charming than the Firemen’s Fair. Going stronger than Larose fundraiser attracting is an afternoon-long Chalmette Festival Louisiana Redbud Festival ever after an unbelievable 134 years, Italian Festival competition barbecue beer tasting featuring New Orleans in Vivian. There’s the Ruby Sacred Music Tickfaw the event netted more than $750,000 Oyster Festival teams from throughout more than 150 beers. Festival New Collins Memorial Redbud in funds for the Thibodaux Volunteer New Orleans the region to downtown Expect the beer list to Orleans Louisiana Treasure Hunt — which Fire Department in 2016, despite Railroad Shreveport. Teams arrive highlight local brews Louisiana whips locals into a frenzy Merryville Days Festival heavy rain. A huge live-music stage, Peach Festival and get cooking on Friday, from Flying Tiger Heritage DeQuincy as they search for a $300 carnival rides, Cajun food and a live Ruston which includes a public live Brewery and Ouachita Festival prize hidden somewhere raffle drawing for $10,000 cash are Ponchatoula Merryville Beauregard within city limits — as well music showcase and a VIP Brewing Company as Strawberry just a few of the main attractions. Watermelon tent party. On Saturday, well as lots of other NOLA Pyrate Festival as the annual pancake The Firemen’s Parade, held annually Festival festival attendees can regional breweries. Week New Ponchatoula breakfast, carnival rides, DeRidder on the Sunday of the festival at 11 Orleans arts and crafts vendors enjoy a kids cook off, Beer lovers who make Festival a.m., is one of the oldest parades in The Day the mechanical bull rides, a the trip should plan to Amite Oyster International and live music. The Louisiana and a crowd favorite. War Stopped rib-eating contest and spend some time at the Festival Amite de Louisiane Redbud Parade, now in St. Francisville Lafayette its 53rd year, will roll at 2 more. The main attraction incredible Flying Tiger Fête Française Where: Thibodaux Fire Department Louisiana Corn of this event is Saturday’s Brewery tasting room, New Orleans Scott Boudin p.m., and the festival will Fairgrounds, Thibodeaux Festival Bunkie barbecue showdown. which opened in 2016 Festival Scott conclude with an old- Saints and Tickets: Free admission Let the Good fashioned street dance on Attendees can sample and and features a replica Sinners Melrose More info: firemensfair.com Times Roll vote on dishes in several of the shark-faced nose Literary Arts Festival the town square. Festival Festival New Melrose categories, bestowing a art of a P-40 Warhawk Shreveport coveted People’s Choice fighter suspended above Orleans Where: Downtown Vivian Smoked Meat token to their overall the bar. Kite Fest Tickets: Free admission Festival Ville Louisiane Port More info: laredbud.com favorite dish. Serious May 10-13 Platte barbecue aficionados Where: Riverwalk, Allen Greater New should plan to arrive in Downtown Monroe Orleans Louisiana Rayne Frog Festival International Cajun-Zydeco time to be among the first Tickets: $35 Dragon Boat Festival New wave of People’s Choice More info: It may be easier to list the things Festival Orleans voters to work their way domobrewfest.com that you can’t do with frogs at the NOLA Pyrate Madisonville Rayne Frog Festival, which will cel- Week New Essence through Festival Plaza Orleans Sunset Herb Festival New sampling smokey brisket, ebrate its 45th year this spring, but and Garden Orleans Boggy Bayou spicy ribs and juicy smoked it’s more fun to list activities such as Festival Sunset Pine frog racing, frog eating contests, frog Festival Oilman’s chicken during what Prairie Mayfest Fishing amounts to an all-you- cook offs, a frog kissing booth, frog Leesville Invitational can-eat buffet prepared by dress-up contests and frog jumping Zapp’s Houma competitions. Don’t have a frog of International Thibodaux trophy-toting pitmasters. Beer Festival Firemen’s Fair your own? No problem! You can rent Baton Rouge Thibodaux Festival Plaza, a frog for the day. All of this takes Where: Spring Fiesta Bayou Country Tales of the Downtown Shreveport place, naturally, in the “Frog Capital New Orleans Superfest New New Tickets: $15 of the World.” Orleans Cocktail FoodFest New Orleans More info: Orleans Zwolle Loggers Cajun Music & arklatexambassadors.com Where: Frog Festival Pavilion, Rayne and Forestry Jane Austen Food Festival Tickets: Free on Thursday, $5 for Festival Zwolle adults on Friday and Saturday Literary Lake Charles Festival Plaquemines Running of More Info: raynefrogfestival.com Mandeville Parish Seafood the Bulls New Festival Belle Orleans Chasse Bucktown Bash Voodoo Music + Metairie Art Experience St. Tammany New Orleans Cake and Ice Crab Festival

Cream Festival Lacombe Oak Street Abbeville Po-Boy Festival Rougarou New Orleans Bayou BBQ Festival Houma Bash – “Morgan City Under the French Bridge” Morgan Market’s Boo City Carré New Greater Baton Orleans Rouge State Erath Fourth Fair Baton of July Ragley Rouge Celebration Heritage & Erath Timber Festival State Fair of Ragley Louisiana MARCH 25-26 APRIL 21-22 MAY 26-27 March 31-April 1 Louisiana Shreveport Watermelon State Fair of Cotile Trade Louisiana Forest Little Walter Hogs for the Cause Festival Louisiana Louisiana Farmerville Shreveport Indian Heritage Days Festival Music Festival Association 2017 will be a big year for Hogs Natchitoches/ Andouille Pow Wow for the Cause, a charity barbecue NSU Folk Festival LaPlace For more than 30 years, the On paper, the Louisiana Forest Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Gonzales cook off and music festival benefit- Festival Cotile Trade Days have been Festival reads like the descrip- and Marksville native Little Voice of the Natchitoches Louisiana ing pediatric patients with brain Wetlands organized as an annual fund- tion of a fever dream. There Walter – who learned to play Pecan Festival cancer. Rapid growth has pushed Essence Houma raiser benefiting the Lions Club are professional lumberjack the harmonica while living Colfax organizers to move the event from Festival New Louisiana of Alexandria. Vendor booths competitions, bed races, karate in Alexandria and went on to Orleans Three Rivers City Park to the University of New Cattle Festival sell everything from arts and demonstrations and a meet- become the preferred sideman Art Festival Orleans Lakefront Arena Grounds, Slidell Heritage Abbeville crafts to tools, antiques, “junk” and-greet with Smokey the of Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley Covington Festival Slidell where the 2017 festival will welcome Harvest and jewelry. (A promotional Bear. There’s even the perfectly and others – is celebrated annu- Sugar Day barbecue teams from across the U.S. Grand Isle Festival on flyer reads: “If it’s legal, you can named Run, Forest, Run 5K. ally at this startup blues festival Festival as well as local and national music Tarpon Rodeo False River New sell it.”) Food and non-alcoholic Festivalgoers who need a break on the banks of the Red River. Alexandria acts including The Chris Robinson Grand Isle Roads beverages are available for from the ax-tossing action Serious students of the blues Brotherhood, Fruit Bats and George Words & Music purchase on food row and or- should head into town for a can sit in on workshops, lectures Oktoberfest Porter Jr. Competitive barbecue Kenner Festival: A ganizers have recently added a visit to the Louisiana Political and jam sessions or visit the site Literary Feast events can sometimes offer little for Louisiana in New Orleans children’s activity area featuring Museum and Hall of Fame. This of Little Walter’s home at 2331 Dirty Linen the non-competing public to enjoy, Gumbo Festival New Orleans a climbing wall and inflatable gem of a museum is packed Lee Street. Night New but Hogs for the Cause has evolved of Chackbay Orleans slides. Cotile Lake Recreation with artifacts from the lives of Chackbay/ Atchafalaya over the years into the kind of party Park is located 20 miles west of Louisiana’s most colorful politi- Since launching the event in Thibodaux Basin Festival where there’s always something to Whitney White Henderson Alexandria via LA-496. cal figures including Winnfield 2013, festival organizers have Linen Night do, whether that means visiting the Bridge City natives Huey P. Long, Earl Long demonstrated impeccable New Orleans Louisiana dedicated gin and tonic bar, catching Gumbo Festival Where: Cotile Lake Recreation and O.K. Allen. tastes in curating a blues show- Bridge City Swine Festival a live music set or wandering the Satchmo Basile Park, Boyce case featuring regional, national SummerFest festival grounds spotting celebrity Ponderosa New Orleans Giant Omelette Tickets: Walk-in admission $1, Where: Winnfield Fairgrounds and international talent. Past Stomp Festival chefs. Regardless of who takes top children ages 6 and younger free Tickets: Free admission performers have included New Orleans Celebration honors in 2017, the real winners Red Dress Run Abbeville cotiletradedays.org laforestfestival.com Shemekia Copeland, Chubby New Orleans More info: More info: Red River Revel are families fighting pediatric brain Louisiana Carrier and Japanese blues Gueydan Shreveport cancer — Hogs organizers recently Renaissance guitarist Nacomi Tanaka. Duck Festival announced that they have donated Yellow Leaf Festival Gueydan over $1 million to fight the disease Arts Festival St. Hammond Where: Alexandria Ampitheater Arts & Crabs Francisville since launching the festival just nine Mirliton Tickets: Free admission Fest Lake years ago. International Festival New Charles More info: Rice Festival Orleans alexandriapinevillela.com/ Le Cajun Crowley Where: UNO Lakefront Arena Sabine Free littlewalter Music Awards Grounds, New Orleans Old Farmers State Festival and Festival Day Festival Florien Tickets: $25-$310 Lafayette More info: hogsforthecause.org Loranger

March 10-12 April 22-23 May 26-28 March 18-19 Southern Greater Baton Treme Creole Decadence New Rouge State Gumbo Festival Orleans Fair Baton New Orleans Independence Angola Gonzales Congo Square New Rouge Sicilian Prison Jambalaya World Rhythms French Food Heritage Spring Festival Festival Festival Larose Red River Revel Festival of Blues in da Shreveport the Bonfires Festival Rodeo The Gonzales Jambalaya The music and dance of Africa, the Parish Festival Lutcher Violet If you’ve ever wandered The Angola Prison Festival, chartered in 1967 Caribbean and the American Gulf Louisiana Zydeco Music Christmas by the local Lions Club as South Region are celebrated in this Gretna among the food vendors at Rodeo, the longest- Festival Under the Oaks a means to promote the two-day, family-friendly festival held Heritage a festival, driven to despair running prison rodeo Opelousas Sulphur Festival Gretna by banal rows of corn dogs, in the U.S., can be an city, will turn 50 in 2017. in Louis Armstrong Park. What the (Plaisance) Bon Fest Port Where many food-themed music lineup may lack in pop appeal Crescent City curly fries and turkey legs, intense experience. Southern Allen festivals only use their it makes up for with authenticity, Blues & BBQ the Independence Sicilian During the rodeo pro- Decadence New Festival New Heritage Festival may be an gram, inmates dubbed namesake dish for market- vibrance and the raw, soul-stirring Orleans Reflections of ing purposes, the Gonzales power of some of the greatest Orleans the Season Port event more to your liking. the “Angola Rough Best of the Allen Jambalaya Festival takes rhythm makers on earth. Highlights Roberts Cove Popular foods sold by ven- Riders” ride broncos Bayou Houma Germanfest Fall Harvest dors at this festival include bareback, attempt to jambalaya seriously. More of the 2017 schedule include Re- than 100 jambalaya cooks birth Brass Band, DJ Soul Sister and Louisiana Rayne (Roberts Festival Grant stuffed artichokes, eggplant milk running cows and Cove) the annual Mardi Gras Indian battle. Shrimp & casserole, lasagna and can- stare down raging bulls are whittled down through Petroleum Christmas Madisonville various heats until only 12 Festival Morgan on the River nolis. There’s also live music, as part of a spectacle Wooden remain. Black pots simmer Where: Louis Armstrong Park, New City Monroe-West Sicilian folk dancing and that typically sells out Boat Festival Monroe Orleans a children’s meatball toss. weeks in advance. In over wood fires through- Bogalusa Blues Madisonville out the weekend as Tickets: Free admission & Heritage Fire and Water (“Kids can throw meatballs stark contrast to to the Louisiana returning champions face More info: jazzandheritage.org Festival Rural Arts to one another,” an online rodeo, there is a large Cotton Festival Bogalusa Celebration (Le commercial for the festival arts and crafts fair — off against newcomers. Ville Platte Feu et L’Eau) In addition to the annual Louisiana Arnaudville says.) Festivalgoers of Italian referred to as Hobby Fesitivals Sugar Cane descent should stop by Craft — where mini- championship, there is the May 19-21 Acadiens Festival New Noel Acadien Champ of Champs cook off et Créoles the Independence Italian mum security prisoners Iberia au Village Cultural Museum for a fasci- are allowed to sell their — which pits past cham- Mid-City Bayou Lafayette Lafayette New Orleans nating exploration of Italian art to patrons. Inmates pions against one another Louisiana Boogaloo Burlesque Celebration in — as well as an absurd Art and Folk New life in Louisiana. sell everything from Festival New the Oaks competition called the Festival paintings and furniture For a free festival, the Mid-City Bayou Orleans Orleans Columbia Independence to handcrafted leather Mini-Pot, which demands Boogaloo sure has a lot to offer: three Where: Alligator Delcambre that competitors prepare Violet Oyster Tickets: Free admission goods, using the pro- stages of live music featuring national Luling Christmas Festival Violet More info: ceeds to support them- a jambalaya in a tiny pot. touring acts as well as Louisiana leg- Festival Boat Parade St. Martinville Delcambre indysicilianfest.com selves and purchase art Past editions of the festival ends, an art market, hip food vendors October Fete have reported selling Kiwanis Pepper Kaplan supplies. and local craft beer stations are just Festival St. Christmas more than 10,000 plates of Festival a few of the main attractions. There’s Martinville Louisiana of Lights jambalaya. There are also Tournoi Ville Where: Louisiana State also the possibility of spotting a real- Natchitoches carnival rides, three stages Downriver Platte Penitentiary, Angola life pirate ship — the chosen method Festival at the of live music (including Tickets: Rodeo $20, of transport for one group of festival French Market Rapides Parish Hobby Craft $10 one indoor stage), a car goers in 2016. What makes the Bayou New Orleans Fair Alexandria show and a 5K run. More info: Boogaloo unique is the Bayou St. Louisiana West Louisiana angolarodeo.com John itself, the site of a rowdy flotilla Chicken Forestry Where: Irma Boulevard, of boats, floaties, canoes and kayaks Festival Dubach Festival & Fair Gonzales Leesville during the fest. Louisiana Tickets: Free admission Seafood St. Tammany More info: Where: Bayou St. John, from Dumain Festival New Parish Fair jambalayafestival.org to Conti streets Orleans Covington Tickets: Free admission, donations St. Tammany Louisiana Book accepted Crab Festival Festival Baton More info: thebayouboogaloo.com Lacombe Rouge