| Fairs & Festivals |
| September
Sept. 1-5 Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival Water parade and blessing of the fleet, with craft and food vendors, music, car show, fishing tournament, and 5K run and walk. 715 Second St., Morgan City, 985.385.0703 or e-mail info@shrimp-petrofest.org. Sept. 1-5 Southern Decadence Gay and lesbian fest with dances, street parties, talent shows, costume contest and a parade. French Quarter, New Orleans, 529.2107, southerndecadence.net. Sept. 4 Battle of the Bands Music, crafts, food, inflatables, water slide, pool. Land-O-Pines Campground, 17145 Million Dollar Road, Covington, 985.892.6023. Sept. 9-10 Lydia Cajun Food Fest Food, crafts, rides, music, a poker run, dancing. Weeks Park, Louisiana 83, Lydia, 888.942.3742. Sept. 9-10 Uplifting the Coast Festival Louisiana music and food. 1618 Louisiana 1, Grand Isle, 225.268.4254, upliftingthecoast.org. Sept. 15-17 New Orleans Burlesque Festival Drawing talent from around the world, the festival features performances, workshops, panel discussions, a competition and appearances by legendary stars from the past. Admission: $25 to $45. Harrah’s New Orleans, 8 Canal St., and House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., New Orleans, 975.7425, neworleansburlesquefest.com. Sept. 21-25 Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival Parades, agricultural exhibits, rides, fais do-do, art, livestock and flower shows. Multiple venues, New Iberia, 337.369.9323. Sept. 23-25 St. Rosalie Church Fair Food, music, games, kids’ activities and a rosary procession. 617 Second Ave., Harvey, 340.1962. Sept. 24 Archbishop Chapelle Craft Show More than 200 crafts booths with handmade items, food, face painting and raffles. 8800 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 456.6770. Sept. 24-25 Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival World music from Africa and the Americas, with crafts and food. Admission: Free. Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave., 558.6100, congosquarerhythms.com. Sept. 24 Swamp Pop Festival Music, crafts, food, water slide, pool. Land-O-Pines Campground, 17145 Million Dollar Road, Covington, 985.892.6023. Sept. 28-Oct. 2 St. Tammany Parish Fair Rodeo, midway rides, exhibits, competitions and music. Covington Fairgrounds, 1304 Columbia St., Covington, 985.892.8421. Sept. 30-Oct. 2 Our Lady of Perpetual Help Fair Tractor rides, games, face painting, food, children’s corner and local music. Admission: Free. 8970 Louisiana 23, Belle Chasse, olphbc.org. Sept. 30 St. Augustine High School Edwin Hampton Music Festival New Orleans bands and a national R&B act (to be announced), food, and a silent auction. Admission: $30. St. Augustine High School, 2600 A.P. Tureaud Ave., New Orleans, 940.5980. October Oct. 1 Art for Art’s Sake Coordinated gallery openings with food, drink, music and street parties, centered on Julia and Magazine streets. Warehouse Arts District and Uptown, New Orleans, 895.7375, cacno.org. Oct. 1-2 Chris Granger / The Times-PicayuneThe crowd is dancing to DJ Trent Cantrelle as he spins records on the Le Plur stage at the 2010 Voodoo Experience in New Orleans. Bayou Music Festival Zydeco, country and rock bands from South Louisiana, with food and kids’ area. Oakridge Park, Golden Meadow, 985.632.4247. Oct. 1-2 Festival of Quilts Museum display and sale of 100 handmade quilts, with food and craft vendors. Admission: $3. Cottonport Museum and Cultural Center, 220 Cottonport Ave., Cottonport, 318.359.3012. Oct. 1 Louisiana Cajun Food Festival Music, food and craft booths, children’s activities. 200 N. Cushing Ave. Kaplan, 337.643.2400. Oct. 2-30 Angola Prison Rodeo Inmate rodeo dubbed “The Wildest Show in the South,” with bull riding, barrel racing, wild cow milking and bareback riding, plus music, arts and crafts, food. Sundays in October. Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, 225.655.2030, angolarodeo.com. Oct. 7-9 Bridge City Gumbo Festival Food, gumbo-cooking contest, rides, crafts, music and a fais do-do. Holy Guardian Angels Church, 1701 Bridge City Ave., Bridge City, hgaparish.org/gumbofestival.htm. Oct. 7-9 Gretna Heritage Festival Music on eight stages, crafts, rides, games, German beer garden, Italian village and a food court. Admission: $15, $40 weekend pass. Gretna Market, Huey P. Long Avenue, Gretna, 361.7748, gretnafest.com. Oct. 7-9 St. Peter School Fisherman’s Festival Rides, games, nightly music, craft booths, food. 188 W. Seventh St., Reserve, 985.536.4296. Oct. 7-9 Voice of the Wetlands Festival Music and Cajun food. Southdown Plantation House, 1208 Museum Drive, Houma, 985.226.1004, voiceofthewetlands.org. Oct. 8-9 Carnaval Latino Concerts, dance, cultural attractions, food, crafts, rides, sponored by the Hispanic American Musicians and Artists Cultural Association. Parking and shuttles available. Admission: Free for festival. Evening concerts, $20 in advance, $25 at the gate; and $25 for two-day weekend pass. Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, 1380 Port of New Orleans Place, carnavallatinonola.com. Oct. 8-9 Gentilly Fest Music, gospel tent, art and craft vendors, food, children’s village, medical screenings. Pontchartrain Park, 6039 Press Drive, New Orleans, gentillyfest.com. Oct. 8 Japan Fest Demos of Japanese crafts and tea ceremonies, traditional drummers, raffles, anime costume contest and high school quiz show. New Orleans Museum of Art and The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, 658.4100, noma.org. Oct. 8-9 Slidell Sell-A-Bration Arts and Crafts Show Show and sale of crafts with demos, food and raffles. Northshore Harbor Center, 100 Harbor Center, Slidell, 985.641.2021, sell-a-brationcraftshow.webs.com. Oct. 14-16 Andouille Festival Local food, music, crafts, a gumbo cook-off, rides and children’s activities. St. John Community Center, 2900 U.S. 51, LaPlace, 985.652.9569, andouillefestival.com. Oct. 14-16 Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival A showcase for Louisiana barbecue and crafts, with two stages featuring blues and R&B performers from the region, including Bettye LaVette, Marcia Ball and Tab Benoit. Admission: Free. Lafeyette Square Park, 540 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, 558.6100, crescentcitybluesfest.com. Oct. 14-16 Festival Acadiens A combination of festivals includes the Louisiana Craft Fair, the Bayou Food Festival, the Louisiana Folk Roots Festival, Downtown Alive!, and Festival de Musique Acadienne, featuring zydeco and Cajun music, Cajun and Creole food, native crafts and folk-life exhibits. Admission: Free. Girard Park, 500 Girard Park Drive, Lafayette, and downtown Lafayette, e-mail info@festivalsacadiens.com, festivalsacadiens.com. Oct. 14-16 Festival of the Lake Music, food, games, rides, inflatables and the Audubon Zoo Bugmobile. 312 Lafitte St., Mandeville, 985.626.5671. Oct. 14-20 New Orleans Film Festival The 22nd annual festival of local, national and international film and video screenings, panels with filmmakers, workshops, awards ceremonies and parties. Various cinemas in New Orleans, neworleansfilmsociety.org. Oct. 14-16 St. Cletus Oyster Festival Rides, music, seafood. 3600 Claire Ave., Gretna, e-mail stcletusfair@yahoo.com. Oct. 14-16 St. Matthew the Apostle Fall Family Festival Food from local restaurants and home cooks, music, games, bingo, children’s performances. 10021 Jefferson Highway, River Ridge, 737.4604. Oct. 15 Dutch Battle memorial Ride and Gumbo Cook-Off Motorcycle touring, cook-off, vendors, safety demos and displays of vintage motorcycles. Downtown Hammond at U.S. 190 and Cate Street, 985.345.1577 or 985.345.2542 or e-mail fhabene@bellsouth.net. Oct. 15-16 Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival Boat-building demos and contests, marine auction, entertainment, flea market, food, crafts, music and the Quick?’n’?Dirty Boat-Building Contest. Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum, 133 Mabel Drive, and banks of the Tchefuncte River, Madisonville, 985.845.9200, lpbmm.org. Oct. 15 New Orleans Baby Fest A baby, child and family expo with 100 exhibitors, local children’s music, face painting kids’ area. Pontchartrain Center, 4545 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 298.8234, neworleansbabyfest.com. Oct. 15-16 Oak Alley Plantation Fall Arts and Crafts Festival Showcases 160 artists and craft vendors from across the United States, with local food, pony rides, face painting and a petting zoo. Oak Alley Plantation, 3645 Louisiana 18, Vacherie, 800.442.5539, oakalleyplantation.com. Oct. 15 Ragley Heritage and Timber Festival Parade, local food, music, quilting, antique car and tractor displays, children’s wagon rides, puppet theater, and magic shows. 6715 Louisiana 12, Ragley, 337.725.3324. Oct. 15 Wild Things Wildlife festival with exhibits, games, canoe and pontoon boat tours, a hayride, contests, a youth wildlife art show and food. Admission: Free. Southeast Louisiana Refuges, 61389 Louisiana 434, Lacombe, 985.882.2000. Oct. 19-22 Washington Parish Free Fair The Free Fair celebrates its 100th year with midway rides, a rodeo, agricultural and art exhibits, food and entertainment. Washington Parish Fairgrounds, 115 Main St., Franklinton, 985.335.7717, freefair.com. Oct. 21-23 Louisiana Gumbo Festival of Chackbay Carnival rides, parade, music, and Cajun cuisine. Fairgrounds, 326 Louisiana 304, Chackbay, 985.633.2828, lagumbofest.com. Oct. 22-23 Boo Carre Halloween and Harvest Festival Costume contests, daytime trick-or-treating for kids, theater, petting zoo, pumpkin procession. Admission: Free. French Market, New Orleans, 522.2621. Oct. 22 Make a Joyful Noise Gospel Festival Local gospel singers and groups offer programs focusing on the music of Mahalia Jackson. Admission: Free. Ashe Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha C. Haley Blvd., 569.9070. Oct. 23 International Heritage Celebration Exhibits representing the culture of more than 40 countries with ethnic food, dance, storytelling, music, craft demos and a parade of nations. Baton Rouge RiverCenter Arena and River Road, downtown Baton Rouge, 225.930.0901, brcwa.com. Oct. 28-30 French Food Festival Showcasing more than 20 local specialty dishes, this culinary festival also features dancing, music, folklife demos and a midway with rides. Civic Center, 307 E. Fifth St., Larose, 985.693.7355. Oct. 28-30 Park-A-Boo Designed for kids under 12 accompanied by an adult, this trick-or-treat celebration includes games, face painting, clowns, a costume contest, a maze and haunted house. Lafreniere Park, Pavilion Island, 3000 Downs Blvd., Metairie, Park-A-Boo.com. Oct. 28-30 The Voodoo Arts and Music Experience Eight stages featuring rock, hip-hop, electronic, indie, funk, jazz, zydeco and brass bands. Plus large interactive art installations, a family area, craft vendors and Louisiana cuisine. City Park behind the New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans, e-mail Info@thevoodooexperience.com . Oct. 29 Grace Lutheran Church Fall Festival Craft vendors, garage sale, music, bingo and kids’ activities, including hay ride, pony rides, crafts and inflatables. 422 Valhi Blvd., Houma, 985.879.1865. Oct. 29 Louisiana Book Festival Author readings and discussions, vendors, paper-making and bookbinding demos, storytellers, costumed storybook characters, food and music. State Library of Louisiana, 701 N. Fourth St., Baton Rouge, 225.219.9503. Oct. 29 Monster Mash Food, music, crafts, auction, games, trick-or-treating, inflatables, to benefit St. Tammany Parish Hospital Parenting Center. Bogue Falaya Park, 100 Park Drive, Covington, 985.898.4435. November Nov. 4-6 Ponchatoula Antique Trade Days Arts and Crafts Fair Drawing antiques, art and craft vendors from many states, this outdoor fair also features local food, music and children’s activities, including pony rides, petting zoo, inflatables. Admission: Free. Downtown Ponchatoula, 800.617.4502. Nov. 5 Abita Springs Gospel Jubilee Gospel music, crafts and food vendors. Admission: Free. Trailhead Park, Abita Springs, 985.809.2976. Nov. 5-Dec. 11 Louisiana Renaissance Festival A cast of 300 costumed actors re-create life in a Renaissance village with jousting, craft demos, falconry, and vendors. 46468 River Road, Hammond, 985.429.9992, larf.org. Nov. 5 Mirliton Festival Music and art from the Bywater neighborhood, with food vendors featuring mirliton dishes, community booths and a children’s area. Admission: $5. Markey Park (Piety and Royal streets), New Orleans, bywatermirlitonfestival.com. Nov. 5-7 Scandinavian Festival Scandinavian food, children’s activities, jazz concerts and a boutique. Norwegian Seamen’s Church, 1772 Prytania St, 525.3602. Nov. 5 Southdown Fall Marketplace Festival Cajun food, craft vendors and folk-life demos, children’s activities and museum tours. Admission: $4. Southdown Plantation House, 1208 Museum Drive, Houma, 985.851.0154, southdownmuseum.org. Nov. 5-6 Swamp Festival Louisiana food, music, crafts, hands-on animal exhibits, special animal feedings. Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St., 581.4629, auduboninstitute.org. Nov. 9-13 Rayne Frog Festival Cajun fais do-do; frog racing, jumping and cooking contests; food and rides. Various locations, Rayne, raynefrogfestival.com. Nov. 11-13 Folk Magic Festival Workshops on spiritual healing, voodoo doll-making and other folk beliefs, with vendors, card readers and cemetery tours. French Quarter Suites Hotel, 1119 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, 831.423.5477, folkmagicfestival.com. Nov. 11-13 Holy Name of Jesus Gator Fest Rides, music, food and games, with alumni night on Nov. 11. 6325 Cromwell Place, hnjschool.org. Nov. 12-13 Destrehan Plantation Fall Festival Arts, crafts, antiques, house tours, an exhibit about the 1811 slave revolt, Cajun and creole foods, music and children’s activities. Admission: $7. Destrehan Plantation, 13034 River Road, Destrehan, 985.764.9315. Nov. 12 Thibodeauxville Fall Fest Food, crafts, games, car show, three music stages, children’s activities and a duck race on Bayou Lafourche. Downtown Thibodaux, 985.446.1187. Nov. 12-13 Three Rivers Arts Festival Juried art festival with performances, music and competitions. Columbia Street, Covington, 985.893.4060. Nov. 16-20 New Orleans Fringe Theater Festival Hundreds of original, avant-garde performances in nontraditional venues, with scores of performing groups from across the United States and overseas. Various locations, primarily in the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods of New Orleans, 941.3640, nofringe.org. December Dec. 1-Jan. 6 Christmas — New Orleans Style Tours of historic homes, caroling, dinners, cooking demonstrations and concerts. Various locations in New Orleans, 522.5730. Dec. 2-4 Christmas Extravaganza Arts & Crafts Expo Hundreds of craft booths and food. Covington Fairgrounds, Covington, 985.796.5853. Dec. 2-4 Plaquemines Parish Fair and Orange Festival Food, music, carnival rides, helicopter rides, crafts, citrus displays, orange-eating contests. Fort Jackson, Buras, 398.4434 or 394.3700, orangefestival.com. Dec. 9-11 Festival of the Bonfires Rides, crafts, food, gumbo cook-off and nightly bonfires. Lutcher Park, 2545 Louisiana Ave., Lutcher, 800.367.7852, festivalofthebonfires.org. Dec. 9-11 Holiday on the Boulevard Storytellers, music, craft vendors, food, and a one-block second-line featuring iconic characters associated with Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Orleans history. Admission: Free. Ashe Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., and Good Works Network, 1824 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans, 569.9070, ashecac.org. Dec. 10 Gift of Music Festival Gumbo cook-off with all-you-can-eat tastings, craft booths, music, carnival games and a live Nativity scene to benefit the youth programs of Bridge Ministry of Acadiana. River Ranch Town Square, 1100 Camellia Blvd., Lafayette, 337.235.5565. Dec. 17 Bayou Terrebonne Christmas Boat Parade Beginning at dusk, decorated boats proceed down Bayou Terrebonne from Bourg to Montegut. Volunteer Fire Station, Bourg, 985.594.2125 |
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