Things to Do in Louisiana This Month
No matter the season, there's always something to celebrate in Louisiana.
From New Year’s celebrations to Carnival kick-offs, here’s how to spend January in Louisiana.
While Louisiana’s winter may be short, it’s full of joy. Bundle up for New Year’s events, Twelfth Night festivities and early Mardi Gras parades. Take a scenic drive along Louisiana’s byways, visit a historic site or cozy up with beignets and chicory coffee at a local café.
First Day Hikes at Louisiana State Parks
January 1-2
Louisiana State Parks
Welcome the New Year with an outdoor adventure! State parks and historic sites throughout Louisiana host First Day Hikes that showcase our state’s natural beauty. Some hikes are guided by expert rangers, others are self-guided, but all participating parks welcome visitors of all ages and fitness levels.
From treks on the beach at Grand Isle State Park to history-focused hikes at Forts Randolph & Buhlow State Historic Site, each location offers a unique perspective on Louisiana’s natural and cultural heritage.
Get a full list of 2026 First Day Hikes in Louisiana.
Mardi Gras Twelfth Night Parade Extravaganza
January 3
Lake Charles
Louisiana’s favorite holiday arrives in all its glory during the Twelfth Night Parade Extravaganza at the Lake Charles Event Center Coliseum. Dance with kings and queens from local krewes, win lavish prizes and ring in the Carnival season with a lively mini parade.
Hungry? Grab Louisiana’s favorite sandwich at Darrell’s Famous Po’Boys, with fillings like barbecue sausage, brisket, spicy Cajun shrimp and roast beef. Or visit Steamboat Bill’s for fresh boiled crawfish and shrimp, shrimp and crab gumbo, soft-shell crab or red beans and rice.
Plan your visit to Lake Charles.
Shreveport Card Show
January 3-4
Shreveport
Calling all card collectors, sports enthusiasts and TCG players — head north for the Shreveport Card Show. Browse more than 200 vendor tables, learn about the latest trends and meet industry experts at the Shreveport Convention Center.
While you’re in Shreveport, shop or even play a few rounds at local gaming stores. The Basement stocks hobby supplies, gaming accessories, collectibles and board games, and the retro gaming area offers free-to-play video games on comfy couches. The Gamers XP sells Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon and One Piece cards, and weekly events include casual and tournament-style games.
Louisiana Fur & Wildlife Festival
January 9-10
Cameron
Long considered the “oldest and coldest” festival in the state, the Louisiana Fur & Wildlife Festival carries on traditions like goose calling, trap shooting, nutria skinning and oyster shucking. Outdoorspeople aren’t the only ones who will enjoy the historic festival — experience parades, gumbo cook-offs, pageants and Cajun dance parties, too.
Explore more of Louisiana’s vibrant terrain on the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, a 207-mile byway teeming with untouched wetlands and wildlife refuges. On the trail is Rutherford Beach, a secluded waterfront perfect for shelling and paddling.
Plan a trip to Cameron Parish.
Cadien Toujours Boucherie
January 10
Morse
This Cajun tradition features live music, delicious food and family fun. The Cadien Toujours Boucherie begins bright and early with the preparation of the hog, then performances by Danny & the Louisiana Stars, the Four Horses Cajun Dancehall Band and the Adam Leger Band.
Learn more about Cajun culture along the Zydeco Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway, with stops in Eunice, Crowley, Rayne and Opelousas. You’ll experience the sounds of swamp pop music at the Louisiana Swamp Pop Museum and explore Acadiana’s African American heritage at the Creole Heritage Folklife Center.
Weenie Spaghetti Festival
January 10
Houma
Celebrate one of life’s greatest pairings at the third annual Weenie Spaghetti Festival in downtown Houma. Browse local vendors selling hot-dog-and-spaghetti-themed merchandise, enjoy live music and taste several variations of the delicacy. Frankly, it’s a great way to spend the weekend.
Spend an afternoon in downtown Houma. Stroll boutique galleries like Art by Nadjah, which displays Panamanian artist Nadjah Bergeron’s unique style. Grab a small-batch white whiskey or barrel-aged bourbon at the historic Bayou Terrebonne Distillers.
Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival
January 14-18
Baton Rouge
Experience the Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival and enjoy fantastic films highlighting the Jewish experience through traditions, challenges and characters. This year’s screenings include “Fantasy Life,” directed by Emmy® nominee Matthew Shear, and “Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire,” directed by Oren Rudavsky.
Before your movie, grab a bite at a Baton Rouge culinary institution: Louie’s Cafe. Enjoy nostalgic old-school diner vibes and order omelets featuring Gulf shrimp, bowls of spicy chicken and sausage gumbo, and Louisiana crawfish stir-fry.
MLK Weekend Celebration
January 16-19
Lake Charles
Honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a memorial breakfast, Sunday service, parade and gumbo cook-off during the MLK Weekend Celebration in Lake Charles. The weekend begins with a breakfast and guest speaker at L’Auberge Casino Resort, followed by a morning of praise, reflection and unity on Sunday, and a day of family fun, food and community on Monday.
Head to Sabine National Wildlife Refuge for time in the sunshine. Hike the Wetland Walkway or Blue Goose Trail for stunning coastal landscapes and opportunities to see and photograph alligators, waterfowl and butterflies.
Abita Springs International Film Festival
January 17-18
Abita Springs
Not ready for the credits to roll? Don’t miss the Abita Springs International Film Festival, screening submissions from around the world. With categories like made-in-Louisiana, experimental, documentary and narrative, there’s something for everyone, plus panels with actors and filmmakers for the true movie buffs.
When visiting the Northshore, Insta-Gator Ranch & Hatchery is a can’t-miss attraction for anyone interested in Louisiana’s famous reptilian native. You’ll love the ranch tour, where you get to feed, hold and perhaps even hatch live gators!
Algiers Mardi Gras Festival
January 24
New Orleans
Get into the Carnival spirit at the Algiers Mardi Gras Festival, a free, family-friendly event in the historic New Orleans neighborhood of Algiers. Watch a parade featuring local marching bands, dancers and cultural groups, then enjoy live performances by the Marine Jazz Band and Amanda Shaw, among others.
Take the kiddos to the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium, which transports visitors to diverse habitats from tranquil Louisiana bayous to the vibrant Caribbean. The Insectarium houses mesmerizing butterflies and lightning bugs, plus an immersive garden with 20 distinct species.
Annual Spring Gardening Seminar
January 24
West Monroe
Proud plant parents, get your tickets to the Annual Spring Gardening Seminar presented by the Northeast Louisiana Master Gardeners. Hear lectures by conservationists Johnny Armstrong, Bradley McCollough and Austin Klais, and mix and mingle with fellow plant lovers.
Your next stop should be the Biedenharn Museum & Gardens, home to a walled English garden with thousands of flowering plants in a number of thematic settings. While you’re there, take a tour of the Coke Museum, with two exhibit rooms filled with Coca-Cola memorabilia, and the Bible Museum, which houses an unmatched collection of rare and historically important Bibles.
Louisiana King Cake Festival
January 31
Thibodaux
The king cake celebration to end all king cake celebrations, the Louisiana King Cake Festival features live music, parades, vendors and of course, plenty of the delicious sweet pastry to go around. Try sweet and savory king cakes, and vote for your favorite to win Best on the Bayou.
Make a weekend of the Cajun Bayou’s beauty. Camp at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, where you can explore the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. Then, embark on a hike or boat tour.
Learn more about Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.
Krewe of Poseidon Mardi Gras Parade
January 31
Slidell
What would Mardi Gras look like under the sea? Find out at the Krewe of Poseidon Mardi Gras Parade in Slidell. This year’s theme — “The World is Your Oyster” — promises pageantry, revelry and Poseidon pride to set sail on dazzling floats, accompanied by marching bands and local dance teams.
Spend the weekend in Slidell exploring the local sights, culture and food. Climb aboard a flat-bottom boat on a Dr. Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tour to see the swamp, resident gators and possibly the legendary Honey Island Swamp Monster. Grab some dinner at Palmettos on the Bayou, an Acadian-style restaurant with stunning waterfront views.
Celebrate Mardi Gras
Statewide
Of the hundreds of festivals in Louisiana, none top Mardi Gras. Witness spectacular parades, dazzling costumes and magical galas. Not to mention, Louisiana king cake can’t be beat. Find Mardi Gras celebrations across Louisiana.
Make Plans for Louisiana This Month
Whether it's one of our many exciting festivals or an adventure in the great outdoors, there is always something unique to experience in Louisiana. Be sure to check our calendar of events for the most up-to-date list of festivities.
