10 Best Festivals in Louisiana You Have to Experience
Louisiana is a state with one of the most colorful calendars of festivals dedicated to the history, culture, and traditions of the state. If you are a fan of spicy food, some great music, or simply a parade, Louisiana is the place to be. All year round, cities in the state burst with music, food, dance, and vibrant costumes that you cannot get anywhere else.
The public and tourists are especially attracted to the laughter, music and warm outlook that is associated with these events. If you are planning to travel to Louisiana here are some of the best festivals that you should not miss!
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is a unique celebration, which is held in Louisiana, and, perhaps, in no other state in the United States of America. It is a colourful carnival held in New Orleans and is a series of parades, costumed parties, and festivities preceding the last day of Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday. From catching beads thrown from the third story windows to eating king cake, Mardi Gras represents the spirit of life and color in every community.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival happens every year in New Orleans, and aims at promoting jazz, blues gospel and almost all other kinds of music, featuring established artists alongside amateurs. Jazz Fest attracts fans from all corners of the earth with the legendary and modern musicians performing on its stage. In addition to the tunes, there is the opportunity to taste Creole and Cajun dishes, get acquainted with various types of art, and enjoy the spirit of Louisiana.
Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Festival
The Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Festival held in New Orleans is a perfect place for talented musicians who play zydeco and Cajun music. Localized lyrics radiate from the accordion and the fiddle and dancers come in hordes for the music frisk. In addition to the music, the festival provides some delicious food from local restaurants and this is as real Louisiana as it gets.
Baton Rouge Blues Festival
One of the oldest blues festivals in the country, the Baton Rouge Blues Festival focuses on Louisiana’s connection to the blues. This event is free and takes place right in the capital, where both legends and new talents perform their music. The festival includes singing and dancing, as well as narration and, naturally, food that can be called Southern comfort food.
French Quarter Festival
The French Quarter Festival spans several days and covers the French Quarter with music, art, food and performances. It’s a family-oriented event at which people of all ages can taste Louisiana’s world-known dishes, including crawfish étouffée and beignets, and listen to jazz, zydeco, and other types of music. It is one of the biggest free festivals that take place in the United States.
Satchmo SummerFest
Satchmo SummerFest is the name given in tribute to Louis Armstrong and the city’s love affair with jazz. This festival is held annually in August with live Jazz, Brass Bands and informative seminars on Jazz history. Of course, there is no shortage of food in New Orleans, especially if it comes to delicious local cuisine. It’s not as crowded as Jazz Fest, and it’s great for getting some good music with a real New Orleans vibe.
Festival International de Louisiane
Festival International de Louisiane is a five-day event that showcases art and music from artists and musicians from around the world offering a taste of Louisiana’s French, African, and Caribbean heritage. This festival has several phases, food sellers, and art works – perfect for learning about Louisiana’s links to the world.
Red River Revel Arts Festival
For art lovers, you should visit Shreveport, specifically if you will be around during the Red River Revel Arts Festival, which spans nine days. This festival presents over one hundred artists from across the country and presents painting, sculpture, and photography. There is a good variety of food and live music, it is also fun for kids and there are various art activities that children can participate in , making it a family event.
Bayou Country Superfest
Country music lovers should not miss the Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge. This festival features some of the most popular country music artist who perform live in concerts that take place in Tiger Stadium. You can expect a lot of people, a lot of cowboy hats and most importantly great music. It is one of the largest music festivals in Louisiana in terms of number of fans participating.
Natchitoches Christmas Festival
Every year the city of Natchitoches is decorated beautifully with lights, parades and fireworks along the Cane River. The Natchitoches festival started from the late 1920s and is famous for its holiday like atmosphere. People can have Christmas goodies, get photographed with Santa Claus and watch the boat parade with lights. It’s the best way to have a Louisiana style Christmas where everything is so warm and inviting.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.
But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
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