Sharing the food, music, culture, and history at the heart of Cajun & Creole Country.

Lafayette Mardi Gras: Revelry For All Ages

No one knows how to throw a party quite like South Louisiana, especially during Mardi Gras season. Whether in the city of Lafayetteor the rural fields of Evangeline and Acadia parishes, Mardi Gras offers revelry for all ages. Here in Acadiana, there's little exclusivity regarding Mardi Gras event…

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Mardi Gras Treasures

Carnival is the season of merriment leading up to Mardi Gras, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent. During Carnival, south Louisiana celebrates with parades and other special events. Krewes are the organizations that sponsor the parades, which are sometimes preceded by krewe…

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Mardi Gras Royalty

Our Mardi Gras season, which stretches from the Twelfth Night of Christmas or Jan. 6 to Mardi Gras day, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the advent of Lent, is filled with extravagant balls and pageantry like no other. Organizations that host Carnival parades, balls, and pageants are known in…

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A Cake Fit For A King

Most people think of Mardi Gras as our season of merriment before Lent, but many of our traditions, such as the sweet and decorative king cake, begin with Christmas. The season of Carnival begins on Jan. 6, known as the Epiphany or Twelfth Night, the day the three kings visited the Christ Child. In…

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Living It Up Before Giving It Up - Cajun & Creole Carnival

South Louisiana is home to the greatest free party on earth, a colorful celebration known as Mardi Gras. But what most people see on television the weekend before Lent starts much earlier. The entire Mardi Gras season runs several winter weeks in Lafayette and throughout the Acadiana region and…

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Dance For A Chicken: Cajun Country Mardi Gras

Most people recognize Mardi Gras as parades, masked balls, and other urban events, but in Cajun Country, a unique side of Mardi Gras takes place in the countryside and dates back centuries. In Acadiana, a region surrounding Lafayette, many towns celebrate the ancient Carnival tradition of courirs…

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4 Ways to Experience Lafayette This Fall

Fall is one of the best times to experience Lafayette, Louisiana, when cooler temperatures and a lively events calendar highlight the city's Cajun and Creole culture. Known as the “Happiest City in America,” Lafayette offers an authentic mix of food, music, art, and outdoor adventure that captures…

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A First Timer’s Guide to Lafayette

Are you short on time for your first visit to Cajun & Creole Country? Are you overwhelmed with all of the things to do and experience? There’s no shortage of ways to experience the Happiest City in America and its nearby communities. We’re sharing our favorites for first-time visitors. On any…

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Festival International Field Guide

Each spring, Downtown Lafayette comes alive with the sights, sounds, and flavors of Festival International de Louisiane, the largest free Francophone festival in the U.S. This five-day event transforms the city into a global stage, where music, art, and culture from around the world take center…

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