April 25-29, 2012
Downtown Lafayette

Come Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Lafayette's Best Free Festival

The rhythms of this unique festival are filtered not by the eardrum, but by the spirit ..... Melodies mingle deep in your soul ..... Music seeps from the pores of your skin ..... a calypso beat ..... a Canadian folk song ..... a tale of lost love ...... Parisian cabaret ..... Cajun waltzes .....Creole fiddling ..... Reggae ..... Carribean carnival chants ..... Zydeco ..... Soukous from Zaire ..... Haitian rara ..... New Orleans Rhythm and Blues ..... ballads from Mali ..... a montage of music from the French-speaking world ..... the essence of Festival International de Louisiane ...... where the world unites -- in harmony.

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Festival International de Louisiane is the largest Francophone (French speaking) festival in the United States. This FREE Festival began in 1986, and has been held every year since, in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Music, dancing, cuisine, theater, cooking demonstrations, storytelling, visual arts, crafts, and street animation create a major cultural festival experience that is truly unique and memorable.

Food vendors at Festival International de Louisiane transport you to the streets of far away lands. Tabasco and cayenne peppers. Mouth-watering seafood. Spicy Caribbean flavors. Jambalaya. Delicate pastas. French pastries. The subtle and the mild. The bold and provocative. Aromas mix in the warm Louisiana air, bringing together diverse cultures, like those of France and Africa in dishes of the French West Indies and Creole gumbo. And an adventurous audience discovers far away lands in the flavors of the world.

Visual and performing arts abound in galleries and theaters throughout Lafayette. Expressions of freedom, emotion, opinions and ideas emanate from movements on stage and brush strokes on canvas. In every medium there are personal interpretations of human experiences from the far corners of the earth. Theater. Dance. Cinema. Visual arts. Beauty is everywhere - in the potter's clay, in the words of the playwright, in the weave of the cloth, in the heart of the artist. Festival International holds a special place in its heart of the children of the world. La Place des Enfants. Storytellers. Games. Music. Art. Hands-on programs and active participation teach children about the diversity of cultures around the world. It is learning and entertainment, but most of all, it is fun!

Festival International de Louisiane 2012 Music Lineup 

Wednesday April 25, 2012

Scéne Malibu Fais Do Do
Terry & the Zydeco Bad Boys (Louisiana - Zydeco)
Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers (Louisiana - Zydeco)

SPECIAL EVENTS

Soirées du Cinéma
Monday, April 23
Soirées du Cinéma at Cité des Arts - 6:30pm (Admission: FREE)
Film: Gainsburg followed by live performance by Philippe Billeaudeaux & Friends

Tuesday, April 24
Soirées du Cinéma at Cité des Arts - 6:30pm (Admission: FREE)
Film: Water on Road

Wednesday, April 25
Soirées du Cinéma at The French Press - 6:00pm (Admission: FREE)
Film: POV Short Cuts

Soirées du Cinéma at The French Press 7:00pm (Admission: FREE)
Film: The Pirogue Maker


Rhythms & Roots Series
A musical series presented by Festival International de Louisiane, located at The Blue Moon Saloon
 
Tuesday, April 24
Rufus Jagneaux w/ special guests (Louisiana) 9:00pm
Admission: $10

Wednesday, April 25
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys w/ special guests Courtbullion (Louisiana) - 9:00pm
Admission: $10

*The full line-up will be available online on Friday, February 10, 2012.
 

For performer biographies and other event information, please visit www.festivalinternational.com. 

Be sure to download the new Festival iPhone app and to create your own personal line-up on the Festival's website!

Please note that Festival schedule and/or performers are subject to change at any time; any updates will be available immediately on the website.

The Festival offers an array of opportunities for volunteers, such as Ticket Sales, Merchandise Sales, Security, Musicians Village Café, and so much more. There is something for everyone, and a variety of times! We invite everyone to volunteer: adults, families, church groups, Scout troops, fraternities & sororities, clubs and organizations. You can even volunteer as part of a community-service project! There are a few requirements for volunteers but the most important one is to Have Fun! To become a Festival Volunteer, you can apply online at http://www.festivalinternational.com/volunteers.

Future Dates:
April 25-29, 2012
April 24-28, 2013