The spring and summer festival season is filled with music, cuisines of all kinds, games, rides, children’s activities and lots more. There are festivals celebrating everything from shrimp, crawfish and oysters to the performing arts, books, beer and the wildlife that calls Louisiana home.
New festivals this year include Tulane University’s New Orleans Book Festival in March and the Park & Recreation Car, Truck and Bike Show in Lake Arthur in May. Returning for a second year are The Rock & Rouge Women’s Music & Food Festival & Beyond and the 5o420 Fest, both in New Orleans.
This year, Gambit has divided the Fairs & Festivals issue into two parts: spring-summer and fall-winter, which will be published in September.
Mark your calendar and spend the next few months taking staycations around the state — and laissez le bon temps rouler.
March
St. Patrick's Day and St. Joseph's Day festivities are on tap as well as festivals celebrating music, bourbon, gardening, a comic con and more.
April
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Festival Louisiana in Lafayette are the best known of the varied festivals, egg hunts and birding events in April.
May
Name an interest, an area of Louisiana or a cultural interest you want to explore and chances are there's a festival dedicated to it.
June
Cajun culture, corn, tomatoes, bikes, catfish and beer are among the stars of festivals in Louisiana this month.
July
Beer and cocktail festivals, a dog show and Satchmo Summer Fest are among offerings in July.
August
Red Dress Run, White Linen Night and Dirty Linen Night are street celebrations in New Orleans in August.
September
Shrimp, zydeco and workforce appreciation are themes for September festivals, but perhaps the largest event is Labor Day weekend's Southern Decadence.