Things to Do in Louisiana This Month
From top-notch fall festivals to Halloween festivities, here's how to spend October in Louisiana.
From top-notch festivals to summer celebrations, here's how to spend September in Louisiana.
La Fête Des Vieux Temps
October 4
Raceland
Experience authentic Cajun culture at the annual La Fête Des Vieux Temps — the “Festival of Old Times.” Learn to Cajun-two-step to native musical genres like swamp pop and zydeco, sample staples like boudin and po-boys and marvel at performances from local artists.
Make a weekend of the bayou’s beauty. Explore the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve’s Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center, where you can learn about the history and culture of Acadian people through films and exhibits.
Experience Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.
Gretna Fest
October 4-6
Gretna
Funky, jazzy and full of soul, Gretna Fest boasts more than 60 bands across three stages. Enjoy headliners like Dierks Bentley, Steve Miller Band and The Revivalists right on the western bank of the Mighty Mississippi. Experience even more music at the festival’s Italian, Asian and German villages before savoring charbroiled oysters and local craft beer at the food court.
After the festival, learn more about Gretna’s unique cultural influences at the German American Cultural Museum. Then experience a working blacksmith shop and antique steam pumper inside the Gretna Historical Society Museum, whose cherry red exterior and tall, arched windows welcome guests.
Bluesberry Fest
October 5
Covington
Rock out to one full day of non-stop art and music at Bluesberry Fest! Explore Covington’s gorgeous Bogue Falaya Wayside Park as you experience incredible live music, local art and delicious coastal Louisiana fare — all of which nod to the blueberry, Covington’s sweet-and-sour cash crop.
Discover even more on the Tammany Trace, which runs through Covington to New Orleans. This rail-to-trail bike path highlights wildlife, historic landmarks, wetlands and 31 gorgeous bridges.
Blues, Brews & BBQ
October 5
Violet
Find Blues, Brews and BBQ in “New Orleans’ Most Historic Neighbor,” St. Bernard Parish. The Crescent City’s easygoing vibes and delicious food trickle into the city with soulful blues music; crisp, hoppy brews; and sweet, tangy barbecue. Attend the free, family-friendly event at Docville Farm, an age-old property that runs alongside the city’s riverbank.
After finger-lickin’ barbecue plates and chilled pale ales, wind down at nearby St. Bernard State Park. Located on the Mississippi River, the park’s dense, shaded forests make for a gorgeous hike. Little ones will love exploring the playground, complete with a jungle gym and swing set.
Learn more about St. Bernard Parish.
Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival
October 5
West Monroe
Sound your bagpipes! The Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival features creative costumes, authentic Celtic music and delectable Irish and Scottish treats. Youth can compete in the Highland Games, take Irish-jig lessons or search for a leprechaun’s hidden treasure.
Later, explore Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge and soak up nature from an observation deck before embarking on a cool, fall hike. For a closer look at waterfowl, head to the pier, where you can birdwatch in the bayou.
National Fried Chicken Festival
October 5-6
New Orleans
The Big Easy wouldn’t be named one of the best food cities in the world without hosting a National Fried Chicken Festival of its own, right? Experience a diverse food lineup from the city’s best chefs. When you aren’t snacking on crispy, spicy chicken strips, watch performances from Cupid and Choppa, grab a cold IPA from the beer garden or listen to a TED-style culinary panel.
For a quintessential New Orleans experience, a visit to the historic and mysterious French Quarter is a must. Listen to the lively tunes of buskers, sample sweet, powder-covered beignets from Café Du Monde or visit the open-air stalls of the French Market.
Que Pasa Fest
October 5-6
New Orleans
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the annual Que Pasa Fest! The festival highlights Hispanic culture and traditions in the Greater New Orleans area. Experience a weekend of live music, delectable Hispanic food, folkloric dances, sports, children's activities and more. The festival is free and open to all ages.
After the thrill of the festival, wind down at Grand Isle State Park, a secluded paradise with trails, campsites and peaceful waterfront views.
Zwolle Tamale Fiesta
October 10-12
Zwolle
The Zwolle Tamale Fiesta upholds one of Louisiana’s finest culinary traditions: tamale-making. Attendees can learn to make their own tamales through hands-on demonstrations while appreciating the splendor of the vibrant Spanish costumes, dances and traditions also displayed at the festival. Not to mention, the area boasts gorgeous trails for hiking, biking and leaf-peeping.
For a closer look at the area’s natural beauty, drive the Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Byway, a 78-mile stretch of sprawling green land with waterfront views. Or keep the fun going at Cypress Bend Golf Resort, where lakefront sunsets gleam atop the reservoir.
Learn more about Toledo Bend Lake Country.
Festivals Acadiens et Créoles
October 11-13
Lafayette
With equal parts food, music and crafts, the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles offers something for everyone while celebrating Louisiana’s Acadian heritage. This three-day event includes a lineup of live music, craft vendors, workshops and culinary demonstrations of classic Creole and Cajun dishes by local chefs.
For a look at the area’s art history, visit Vermilionville, a living history museum and folklife park. Embark on a self-guided tour through moss-draped oaks, or stop by artisan booths, where locals demonstrate early crafts performed by Acadians, Creoles and Native Americans.
Prize Fest
October 16-19
Shreveport and Bossier City
At Prize Fest, explore works from local film-makers, comedians, musicians and chefs. The annual street festival spans two action-packed weekends with activities like stand-up open-mic nights and film screenings, with competitions in disciplines like photography and the culinary arts.
Dive deeper into Shreveport and Bossier City’s local art scenes. The cities boast creative projects that sing, from local films at the Robinson Film Center to revolving modern-art installations at Southern Museum of Art Shreveport.
International Rice Festival
October 17-20
Crowley
Cool, autumn breezes ring in the International Rice Festival. Each day has its own can’t-miss events: Stop by for carnival rides and live music on two sound stages, vote for the best musician in a fiddle and accordion contest, watch a classic-car show and enter a rice-and-Creole-cooking contest.
Bring Louisiana back to your home kitchen with Cajun-cooking essentials like seasoning, roux, boudin and andouille sausage from Richard’s Cajun Foods in nearby Church Point. For a sweet treat on your drive back, stop by Frosto for mile-high sundaes, classic ice-cream floats and creamy milkshakes.
Learn more about Acadia Parish.
Andouille Festival
October 18-20
LaPlace
Love Cajun cooking? The Andouille Festival in LaPlace returns for another year of live entertainment, carnival rides and delicious Louisiana staples. Don’t miss the main event — a cooking contest that highlights classic andouille-based fare like gumbo and jambalaya.
Pick out your own gumbo fixins’ at the German Coast Farmers Market, which has a reputation for offering some of Louisiana’s most delicious produce. Shop for ripe, seasonal fruit; crisp, fresh vegetables; sweet, golden honey and handmade goods.
Discover more about Louisiana's River Parishes.
NOLA Funk Fest
October 18-20
New Orleans
Louisiana’s rich musical heritage comes to life at the groovy NOLA Funk Fest. Attendees will revel in the impressive music lineup of local and renowned funk artists and soulful Louisiana foods, amid a lively atmosphere with iconic New Orleans flair.
Any trip to the Crescent City is incomplete without a grand tour — luckily, there’s plenty to choose from, like a ride on the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen or a Witches Brew paranormal history tour.
Rougarou Fest
October 18-20
Houma
The Rougarou Fest is a free, family-friendly festival with a spooky flair. Celebrate the rich folklore that exists along the bayous of Southeast Louisiana through live music, cultural demonstrations, children's activities, Cajun food, the Krewe Ga Rou parade and more.
Don’t stop your adventure downtown! Houma’s Wetlands Cultural Trail offers cypress-lined bayou views. Stop to tour the nearby Greenwood Gator Farm, where Tim “The Gator Man” shares his expertise on Louisiana’s most famous reptile.
Chuck Fest
October 19
Lake Charles
Chuck Fest, one of Lake Charles’s largest annual festivals, celebrates bands, beers and all things Louisiana. The free festival highlights Southwest Louisiana’s famous musical genres, swamp pop and zydeco, as well its distinctively joyful culture and jaw-dropping meals (think: boudin, gumbo and cracklin’).
Before the festival starts, take a morning paddle through Sam Houston Jones State Park, where Bayou Adventure provides self-serve paddle rentals.
Louisiana Legends Festival
October 19
Homer
At the annual Louisiana Legends Festival, attendees can experience blues, gospel, harmonica, pop and country music playing on two stages in Downtown Homer. The free event covers five downtown blocks, and boasts over 50 arts, crafts, food and artist booths, too.
While you’re in town visit Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum, which will be open for tours. Catch a lakefront sunset at the expansive Lake Claiborne State Park, where you can also kayak, canoe, fish or hike.
Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
October 27
New Orleans
If you know nothing of New Orleans, you’ve still heard of po’boys. The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival, located in historic Uptown, preserves the culture and history of the sandwich — a delicacy created by men of color for economically marginalized streetcar workers. Now, it’s the marquee meal of greater Louisianan life.
While you’re in town, dive further into New Orleans’ Black history. Start with lunch at Creole eatery The Munch Factory before touring Studio BE. This powerful warehouse installation explores the impact of Black revolutionaries.
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.
