Celebrate Summer Festivals in Louisiana

Need summer vacation plans? With more than 400 fairs and festivals scheduled annually around the state, Louisiana is considered the "Festival Capital of the World" for good reason. Make a trip to celebrate some of our favorite things here in Louisiana — food, music and culture. Here’s just a sampling of family-friendly events during the summertime.

*Always check the festival websites for the most up-to-date information, as events and dates are subject to change.

Summer Food Festivals in Louisiana

In Louisiana, we know how to eat. So much so that we find reason to celebrate! Honor fresh local produce at food festivals, including the Louisiana Peach Festival (a celebration of Ruston's finest, fuzziest fruit), the Beauregard Watermelon Festival and the French Market Creole Tomato Festival in New Orleans. You'll have the chance to taste award-winning peach cobbler, carve juicy watermelons and jam alongside second lines.

Summer in Louisiana means seafood, and these fests know how to make it a party! At the Jean Lafitte Seafood Festival, taste Cajun and Creole food or take a swamp tour. Delcambre Shrimp Festival offers signature shrimp dishes like boiled and fried shrimp, shrimp sauce piquante and shrimp salad, plus a fais do-do (Cajun dance party) and street fair.

And of course, grabbing a Natchitoches meat pie at the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival is a must — it’s the city’s signature dish! Can’t pick a cuisine? Got a craving for Cajun flavor? Get a sampling of it all at the Cajun Music & Food Festival in Lake Charles or the Gonzales Jambalaya Festival in Ascension Parish.

Louisiana Music Festivals in Summer

At any moment, Louisiana is filled with the sounds of jazz, zydeco, blues and everything in between. Hear the accordions and washboards of Cajun and Zydeco music at the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival in Opelousas and the Mamou Cajun Music Festival, where you’ll be sure to get up on your feet and cut a rug. In addition to Cajun music, the Marshland Festival in Lake Charles features popular country and classic rock performers.

Fan of the blues? The Highland Jazz & Blues Festival in Shreveport is a must-visit, as is the Natchitoches Jazz and R&B Festival. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Satchmo SummerFest in New Orleans, which celebrates the life, music and legacy of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. The multi-day festival features intellectual seminars from well-known jazz and music scholars, along with impressive music ranging from traditional and contemporary jazz to brass bands and more — not unlike the city's well-known Jazz Fest.

Summer Cultural Festivals in Louisiana

Louisiana’s history continues to shape its culture and customs, from industries such as shrimping and sugarcane farming to traditions like Mardi Gras and Creole cuisine, which are still celebrated today. In Morgan City, the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival honors both the local fishermen and the petroleum industry that have influenced the area. The annual Blessing of the Fleet and water parade on Berwick Bay highlights participating shrimp boats, pleasure craft and the biggest "muscle boats" of the oilpatch. While in town, take a tour of the Mr. Charlie oil rig at the International Petroleum Museum and Exposition, the only place in the world where the general public can walk aboard an authentic offshore drilling rig.

Since 1937, the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival in New Iberia has celebrated the sweetest thing of all — sugar — with a Blessing of the Crops and a parade with the reigning King Sucrose and Queen Sugar. In 1977, a trademark bearing the title "Gueydan, LA — Duck Capital of America" was recorded and validated by the Secretary of State. The Gueydan Duck Festival appropriately highlights the hunting heritage of the Acadiana region with events like duck dashes and decoy carving.

Last, but certainly not least, ESSENCE Festival of Culture® Presented By Coca-Cola® is the largest African-American culture and music event in the United States. Attendees to the New Orleans festival experience panel discussions, demonstrations, workshops, shopping, meet-and-greets and live music featuring some of the best in R&B, soul, funk, gospel and hip-hop.

We’ve always believed that there’s more fun to have in Louisiana than just about anywhere else. If this list of incredible summer festivals hasn’t convinced you, come on over and let us show you in person. Foodies, adventure-seekers, heritage lovers and fun-seeking families will not be disappointed with all there is to do at Louisiana’s festivals. 

For more about Louisiana’s abundance of food, music, culture and every quirky festival in between, take a peek at our Festivals & Events calendar.