Laissez les bons temps rouler! In other words, “Let the good times roll.” This is the motto of Lafayette, Louisiana, billed as the “unofficial capital of Cajun Country,” a city where the populace almost unanimously embraces the spirit embodied in the French expression “joie de vivre” (joy of living). And this “work hard, play hard attitude” is reflected in the area’s music, food, and seemingly endless string of celebrations. Autumn is no exception, for when cooler weather arrives, at least relatively speaking for the subtropical climate, the city is alive with fun things to do.
Facts about Lafayette, Louisiana
Situated 35 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico, Lafayette has a population of 120,623 (US Census Bureau, 2010), and according to the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission (2011), is considered the “Heart of Acadiana,” with its “rich French heritage blended with Spanish, American, Indian and African influences.”
Festival Acadiens & Downtown Alive!
Held in October, this celebration of regional music, food, and crafts is actually a combination of six different festivals. Normally commencing during midweek with the Culinary Classics (a two-day culinary extravaganza), it concludes on the weekend in Girard Park with food, crafts, and a free concert that provides a total of 16 hours of entertainment and highlights the talent of dozens of Cajun and Zydeco musicians. What’s more, you can watch exhibitions of fascinating skills like alligator skinning, decoy carving, net and trap making, basket weaving, and other regional crafts, and attend instructional seminars, musical demonstrations, and performances by local humorists and storytellers. Finally, if you like to dance, you can cut a rug at the free Friday-night street dance called Downtown Alive! (Fry & Posner, 1996)
Accommodations include:
- Free parking at the Cajundome
- Shuttle service for a nominal fee
- Golf-cart transportation for the physically impaired to the Native Crafts Festival Food
- Food booths by local restaurants
- Porto-lets (Fry & Posner, 1996)
Boudin Cook-Off at Parc San Souci
The annual Boudin Cook-Off is held each October in downtown Lafayette at Parc Sans Souci (corner of E. Vermilion St. and Polk St.), with proceeds benefiting the Historic Preservation Alliance of Lafayette. This event, however, isn’t just about cooking and eating but good times and family fun. (Carriker, 2011)
There are three categories of boudin in the cook-off (traditional, specialty, and unlinked), and the “chefs” consist of 25 of the region's top boudin-making masters, although the number of “masters” seem to increase each year. There’s also a “boudin toss,” along with a boudin-eating contest. And for those of you unfamiliar with this Louisiana delicacy, trust me when I say that consuming a dozen or more boudin is far more difficult than eating a comparable number of hotdogs.
The event offers numerous freebies, including:
- Admission and parking
- Fun jumps for the kids
- Ice cream sandwiches
- Samples of Cajun cuisine from local restaurants and vendors
- Live entertainment by area bands like The Specklers and The Howdies
By the way, if you’re unfamiliar with boudin, a staple in south Louisiana, it’s a sausage traditionally made with pork and stuffed with rice and various vegetables. However, there isn’t one specific recipe, so different people tend to use different meats and seasonings, thereby explaining the necessity for a “Boudin Cook-Off.”
Acadiana Wine & Food Festival
A fairly new event in Lafayette, the Acadiana Wine & Food Festival is held in late October on the grounds of the Hilliard University Art Museum, with proceeds benefiting the programs and operations of the museum. According to the museum’s website (2011), the festival is “a celebration of fine Wine, Food, and of course, Music!” Moreover, as per the website, visitors “enjoy a unique wine tasting experience, showcasing cuisine from area celebrity chefs, interesting programs, elegant wine and culinary products, live entertainment, and tour the museum galleries.”
Acadiana Film Festival
Held in November, the Acadiana Film Festival, according to its website (2011), “provides a platform for independent filmmakers and musicians to present their original work,” with a goal of creating “a forum that joins together artist and industry professionals, while educating the public and promoting the entertainment industry in Louisiana.” Located chiefly in downtown Lafayette, with some off-site venues, the festival runs for three days, and most events are open to the public and free of charge.
Events include:
- Screenings
- Panels
- Workshops
- Seminars
- Live music
- Social and professional networking
- Parties
A Cajun & Creole Christmas
According to the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, beginning in mid-November with the Festival of Trees and lasting to Christmas, this event is really a series of holiday events throughout Acadiana, including several different festivals, complete with parades, in Lafayette and surrounding towns. There are also holiday lightings, tours of spectacularly decorated historic homes, and opportunities to enjoy mouthwatering cuisine, as well as concerts and dance performances, all geared toward filling participants with the Christmas spirit.
In closing, there simply isn’t enough room in one article to mention all the great things to do in Lafayette, Louisiana when the leaves begin to turn and the days grow shorter, so why not plan a trip to the Heart of Acadiana and discover them for yourself? Laissez les bons temps rouler!”
Sources:
Acadiana Film Festival (2011) “About AFF,” retrieved September 29, 2011 from acadianafilm.org
Carriker, R. (2011) Director of Public History Program, Department of History and Geography, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, “Boudin Cook-Off,” personal correspondence, September 29-30
Fry, M. & Posner, J. (1996) Cajun Country Guide. Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing Company
Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission (2011) “Culture” & “Cajun and Creole Christmas,” retrieved September 28, 2011 from lafayettetravel.com
Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum (2011) “Mission of Acadiana Wine and Food Festival,” retrieved September 29, 2011 from museum.louisiana.edu
U.S. Census Bureau (2011) Population of Lafayette, Louisiana, retrieved September 28, 2011 from 2010.census.gov
Carol Rzadkiewicz - Carol Rzadkiewicz has taught college English for over 14 years and is the author of three published novels and numerous short stories.
