T hird District Festivals:
South Louisianians love celebrating their heritage and traditions with annual festivals, many of which revolve around south Louisiana’s unique culinary traditions. Throughout the year, small towns and communities across the Third District hold festivals themed around native foods like sugarcane, crawfish, andouille sausage, Cajun food, French food, jambalaya, and more . Many of these festivals have been held for decades and some, like the Annual Shrimp and Petroleum Festival in Morgan City, are more than just regional attractions.
Some of the annual fairs and festivals held in the Third District include:
The French Food Festival- Reaching back to its French culinary roots, the annual French Food Festival showcases the best in Cajun cuisine, giving fair-goers the chance to learn about the essence of the Cajun way of life. Every October, the tent goes up and for three straight days residents and visitors to the Lafourche parish town of Larose experience the food, music, culture and dancing of the people who have lived along Bayou Lafourche for more than two centuries. For more information visit the Larose Regional Park website.
Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival- Focusing on one of the most ubiquitous ingredients in Cajun cuisine, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival pays annual tribute to the shellfish caught in the waterways of south Louisiana. Held each May at Parc Hardy in Breaux Bridge, Crawfish Festival has been named a Top 20 event by various news and media groups including CNN, ABC and NBC and is the winner of the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festival’s Festival of the Year award five years running. For more information view the festival website.
Louisiana Gumbo Festival- Held each October, the Louisiana Gumbo Festival in Chackbay is a chance for residents of south Louisiana to pay tribute to one its most iconic foods, gumbo. For better than three decades, the Louisiana Gumbo Festival offered a parade, rides, entertainment and, of course, fresh gumbo.
Jambalaya Festival- Held every October, the Jambalaya Festival has been a Gonzales tradition for more than 40 years. Festival-goers can enjoy carnival rides, music, entertainment and world champion Jambalaya over a three day stretch. For more information please visit the Jambalaya Festival website.
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A St. Bernard family celebrates their
Italian heritage at the Los Islenos
Festival. |
Andouille Festival- This aptly named festival brings local sausage connoisseurs and the public together for live music, entertainment and cooking contests revolving around the Cajun-style sausage. Held every October in LaPlace, the Andouille Festival is a St. John Parish tradition.
The Annual Shrimp and Petroleum Festival - Commemorating two of south Louisiana's largest industries, the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival is the state’s longest running festival. The five-day-long bonanza of family entertainment boasts live music, arts & crafts shows, the Cajun Culinary Classic and the traditional Blessing of the Fleet. The Shrimp and Petroleum Festival is held every August in Morgan City. For more information, please visit the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival website.
Sugarcane Festival- Join King Sucrose and Queen Sugar as they preside over the annual Sugarcane Festival in New Iberia. Held each year over five days in early fall, the Sugarcane Festival offers 14 acres of rides, attractions, a parade and entertainment all in the name of sugarcane. For more information visit the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival and Fair Association website.
Los Islenos Festival- Created to celebrate the arrival in 1778 of the Canary Islanders to what is now St. Bernard Parish, Los Islenos Festival has blossomed over its 32 year history into one of south Louisiana’s most popular festivals. Held each March, Los Islenos Festival celebrates the mixing of the Canary Islander, Irish and Italian cultures and offers music, dancing, and food centered on the history and culture of the region. The festival’s focal point is the annual parade with more than 48 floats, 2,000 riders and 300,000 pounds of produce. In addition to the Irish and Italian beads thrown to parade-goers from the floats above, Los Islenos parade participants traditionally toss produce to the people below. For more information about Los Islenos Festival visit Los Isleños Heritage and Cultural Society .
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Louisiana's 3rd District 