Work hard, play hard. That's our tradition here in French Louisiana. From Mardi Gras and Friday afternoon fais-do-dos (street dances), to festivals celebrating everything from Cajun and Zydeco music, crawfish and our French heritage, you'll find something every week in Lafayette.
Festival & Events
Downtown Alive!
Oct 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Nov 7, 14 & 21
Downtown Lafayette comes alive with a series of outdoor concerts for the entire family. Downtown Alive! is the biggest and best downtown tradition.
Parc Sans Souci or Parc International, Lafayette
Free. Vendors @ 5:30 pm; performances 6-8:30 pm
337-291-5566., www.downtownlafayette.org
Oct 4
Musical bands playing Spanish, French, and Portuges Music. Latin food, margaritas, wine, and more.
Parc International, Lafayette
Free. Donations accepted. 5-11 p.m.
337-280-2102/337-298-5486
Roberts Cove Germanfest
Oct 4 & 5
German bands, singers and dancers, folklore and rice threshing demonstrations, antique farm equipment, variety of German foods and Kiddie land.
St. Leo Catholic Church grounds, Roberts Cove
Sat.,10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun.,10 a.m.-5 p.m.
337-334-8354, www.robertscovegermanfest.com
Rhythms on the River
Oct 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov 6, 13 & 20
Enjoy live music in the Town Square every Thursday evening from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Food and drink available (no ice chests please). 10/9-Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie (Zydeco & Cajun); 10/16-Lil' Buck Sinegal (Blues); 10/23-The Figs (string/old time); 10/30-Nik-L-Beer (Variety); 11/06-Krossfyre; 11/13-Louisiana Red (Variety 50's,60's, Pop & Cajun); 11/20-Roddie Romero & the Hub City Allstars (Roots rock & Cajun)
River Ranch Town Square, Lafayette
Free. 5:30-8:30 p.m.
337-216-6529, www.riverranchdevelopment.com
Festivals Acadiens et Creoles
Oct 10-12
Celebrate everything uniquely Cajun and Creole with a combination of festivals including Downtown Alive!, the Louisiana Crafts Fair, the Bayou Food Festival and Festival de Musique Acadienne.
Downtown & Girard Park, Lafayette
Free.
337-232-3737/800-346-1958, www.FestivalsAcadiens.com
Arts & Entertainment
At Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum:
Long Overdue: Book Renewal - Jun 26 - Sep 30 - A collaboration between the Portland Public Library and Maine College of Art. It is an exploration of modern society's relationship to books and art.
Focus on Faculty: A 40th Anniversary Survey - Jun 26-Dec 31 - A year-long exhibition that will showcase artworks by faculty from the department of Visual Arts at UL. Each month a new group of artworks will be exhibited.
Forty Works for Forty Years - Jun 26-Dec 31 - Selected works from UAM's permanent collection will rotate through the year in celebration of the 40 year anniversary of the museum's founding.
Drawings in Light - Sep 27 - Dec 31 - Visscher's Drawings in Light series explores the world of nature through the lens of science and geometry. In these new works, lights shine on strips of clear, shiny plastic. The plastic is bent or scored to make curved lenses, causing shimmering reflections of light and shadow to fill the gallery walls.
Animals in Bronze: The Michael & Mary Erlanger Collection of Animalier Bronzes from the Georgia Musem of Art - Sep 27 - Dec 31 - Anamilier bronzes, which depict both wild and domesticated animals, gained a wide audience in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This exhibition represents the full range of styles and many of the finest artists of this genre.
Free for UL students,Facultyand Staff. General Public Adults: $5, Senior Citizens: $4, Students(5-17): $3. Tues-Sat 10:00 to 5:00PM Sun & Mon- Closed.
337-482-2278, http://museum.louisiana.edu
Second Saturday ArtWalk
Oct 11, Nov 8, Dec 13
Enjoy an evening browsing various galleries, etc. enjoy original art work pieces along with complimentary wine, hors d'oeuvres at various locations along with entertainment in the line of bands, etc.
Downtown, Lafayette
Free. 6-8 p.m.
337-291-5566, www.downtownlafayette.org
Sports & Outdoors
Live Quarter Horse Races at Evangeline Downs
Sep 4-Dec 28
Join Evangeline Downs for exciting horse races every Thurs.-Sun. night. 10 races/night will be featured in the first entertainment complex in America designed to combine horse racing and casino gaming.
Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, Opelousas
Free in Paddock area. $3 in Club-house.
Thurs.-Sun. 6:20 p.m.-til
337-594-3000, www.evangelinedowns.com
Ragin' Cajuns Volleyball
Oct 10
UL Lafayette vs. South Alabama.
Earl K. Long Gym, UL Campus, Lafayette
Admission. 7 p.m.
337-265-2100, www.ragincajuns.com
UL vs. Arkansas State University
Oct 18
Ragin Cajuns football.
Cajun Field, Lafayette
$8-$22. 6 p.m.
337-265-2100, www.ragincajuns.com
Carriage House Suites at River Ranch
Urbane and sophisticated, Carriage House Suites at River Ranch redefine the boutique hotel experience.