Things to Do in Louisiana This Month
No matter the season, there's always something to celebrate in Louisiana.
From barbecue cook-offs to end-of-summer celebrations, here's how to spend September in Louisiana.
Featured Events in Louisiana
It’s fall, y’all! Fall in Louisiana brings cool evenings and warm gumbo. Festival season is in full swing, with parish fairs, fall festivals and football games filling the calendar. Get outside and explore our state parks, or stay indoors and discover one of Louisiana’s state museums.
Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival
Morgan City
September 3-7
Perhaps no other festival has a more bizarre combination than the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival. While the name may turn heads, it’s a dual celebration of the area’s prime industries. Not to mention, it’s fun! Hundreds of arts and crafts vendors sell handmade goods, while a children’s village gives little ones a chance to run wild. Street parades, art shows, fireworks, carnivals, concerts, a coronation and more — the joy list runs long.
While you’ll have plenty to do at the festival, take note of Morgan City’s breathtaking scenery. Make time to paddle down the Lower Atchafalaya River Paddling Trail, which highlights terraces, swamps and marshes. Later, drive down Bayou Teche National Scenic Byway for top-notch Cajun views.
Southern Decadence
New Orleans
September 3-7
Southern Decadence is New Orleans' largest annual celebration of community, pride and self-expression. What began in 1972 as a going-away party for a friend has grown into one of the city's most vibrant traditions: a joyous parade through the French Quarter filled with dazzling costumes, high energy and a celebrity Grand Marshal leading the way.
Continue your colorful, art-filled journey at JAMNOLA, a self-proclaimed cultural funhouse with dozens of exhibits highlighting the city’s iconic art, music, food and theatrics.
I Love Seafood Fest
Monroe
September 4-6
If you do indeed love seafood, Monroe’s I Love Seafood Fest is the place to be on Labor Day weekend. Hot, fresh, Cajun-spiced crawfish is served all day long, and live music sets the mood for plenty of family fun. The best part? General admission is free!
If you’re bringing the kiddos, don’t miss the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, home to just about every creature under the sun, from lions, tigers and bears to zebras, bison and baboons. Take a Safari Boat Ride through the scenic lagoon, where you’ll see turtles, ducks and wading birds in their natural habitats.
Oldies but Goodies Fest & BBQ Cook-Off
Port Allen
September 12
Head to West Baton Rouge Parish for a celebration of the good old days at Oldies but Goodies Fest & Smokin’ Oldies BBQ Cook-Off. Admire antique cars or participate in hula hoop and jitterbug contests. It’s groovy, baby!
Work up an appetite with a family walk or bike ride along the West Baton Rouge Heritage Trailway, a paved path with scenic Mississippi River views. Take a quick detour for a sticky, syrup-soaked sweet treat at L&R Sno-ball Stand.
Learn more about West Baton Rouge.
NOLA River Fest
New Orleans
September 12
Did you know that the Mississippi River is the second-longest river in the United States — and that it reaches its maximum depth in New Orleans? This mighty waterway was instrumental in the country’s founding, and even more so in Louisiana’s economy and trade. Celebrate the mighty Mississippi in style at NOLA River Fest at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, featuring live music, presentations and panel discussions, and plenty of delicious food.
There’s no shortage of other opportunities for learning in New Orleans. Visit the National World War II Museum, home to an extensive collection of artifacts and vehicles from the period, or head to the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, where you’ll learn the stories behind Louisiana’s most famous dishes, including po’boys, beignets and gumbo.
St. Jude’s Boudin & Cracklin Cookoff
Breaux Bridge
September 12
Hungry? Bring the whole family to St. Jude’s Boudin & Cracklin Cookoff for a day of savory snacks for a good cause at Cajun Heritage RV Park. Try home-cooked boudin and cracklins, then dance the night away to live music featuring K-BON’s DJ Big Al, followed by the Cajun Roots Band.
As the night winds down, the party’s just starting at the historic Blue Moon Guest House & Saloon. This quaint venue is home to a back-porch saloon with live music weekly, from Cajun jam sessions to open-mic nights.
Learn about St. Martin Parish.
Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival
Natchitoches
September 18-19
This beloved annual festival celebrates one of Louisiana’s favorite local delicacies: the meat pie. The city of Natchitoches is famous for little pockets of savory deliciousness, and the festival features plenty of varieties, plus a pageant and other family-friendly activities.
Sports fans, visit the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame & Northwest History Museum, which celebrates local sports icons and Louisiana cultural traditions in one compelling experience. There, you’ll see a Super Bowl XLIV commemorative football signed by all 53 New Orleans Saints after their 2010 victory and the fastest car in the world in 1963 — a souped-up Ford Thunderbird.
Hero Fest
Houma
September 18-20
Hero Fest honors Houma’s local first responders and other community heroes with live music, carnival rides, food, a 5K run and a live auction. Admission is free and includes access to an incredible entertainment lineup featuring John Foster, Thomas Cain and the Eli Young Band.
Birders, make a stop at Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, a critical fall habitat for neotropical migratory birds. You’ll likely see warblers passing through, as well as vireos and flycatchers along the tree lines. And you’re almost guaranteed to see permanent residents like cattle egrets and eastern meadowlarks in the pasture.
22nd Annual Highland Jazz & Blues Festival
Shreveport
September 19
Get a little funky at Shreveport’s Annual Highland Jazz & Blues Festival presented by Live! Casino and Hotel. This free fest hosts local and national jazz and blues artists, including Dumpstaphunk, Snake Doctors and Shades of Green, at Columbia Park. Families can enjoy live music, food and artwork throughout the park.
Make it a weekend trip and explore everything Shreveport and Bossier City have to offer. Stop and smell the roses at America’s Rose Garden, a park with beautiful blossoms, sculptures and fountains. Love shopping? Don’t miss the Louisiana Boardwalk, an outdoor retail center with local and national brands, restaurants and live entertainment.
Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival
New Iberia
September 24-27
Whether dusted upon beignets or shaken into a French 75, Louisiana sugar is everywhere. What sweeter way to celebrate this valued part of the state’s economy than at the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival? Watch the annual Blessing of the Crop, enjoy three parades held throughout the weekend and dance the night away at a fais do do, featuring the stylings of Clay Cormier, Swampland Revival and Chris Ardoin.
Keep the sweet treats rolling with a trip to LeJeune’s Bakery in Jeanerette. Since the 1800s, five generations of the family have baked tasty French bread and ginger cakes, earning the bakery a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
Alligator Festival
Luling
September 24-27
In Luling, the Alligator Festival invites families for a few days of fun with carnival rides, craft vendors, live music and delicious alligator-based dishes. You just might have the chance to pet a live alligator, too!
Don’t leave without a proper visit to a swamp. Luling’s Swamp Adventures offers thrilling airboat tours through alligator-filled estuaries. Have lunch nearby at The Seafood Pot, where chefs cook up authentic crawfish, gumbo and po’boys.
Experience Louisiana’s River Parishes.
Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival
Bogalusa
September 25-26
The Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival is a not-so-secret hidden gem just an hour away from New Orleans. This beloved fest has been consistently voted one of Louisiana’s best for its dynamic blues, peaceful riverfront campgrounds and top-notch food. This year’s lineup includes the Resurrection Blues Band, Angela Easley and Mr Sipp.
Did you know you can camp just minutes away from the action? Book an RV campsite or tent camp in Cassidy Park, along the banks of the Bogue Lusa Creek.
First Annual Hungarian Harvest Festival
Springfield
September 25-27
Experience the first-ever Hungarian Harvest Festival, a weekend filled with family fun, live music and plenty of authentic treats. Try traditional Hungarian dancing, shop at local vendors and learn more about the culture. Egészségedre!
Nearby Tickfaw State Park offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Bring your own canoe or kayak, or rent one at the park, to explore the cypress-tupelo swamp up close, or visit the nature center to learn about local flora and fauna.
C.O.Y.C. Hurricane Festival
Cut Off
September 25-27
Hurricane Festival is back! Cut Off’s beloved family tradition features carnival rides, live music, crafters, games and more. This longstanding event is known as much for its fun as for its food — sample delicious Louisiana classics like gumbo, pistolettes, oysters and even alligator.
Explore the small fishing community of Cut Off while you’re in town. The city’s name comes from a shortcut canal connecting it to New Orleans, so you’ll easily find fishing tours from local outfitters like Riptide Charter Fishing. Captain Jason leads visitors to some of South Louisiana's best fishing grounds in search of trophy speckled trout and other prized catches.
Find more things to do in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.
Celebrate National Scenic Byway Day
Statewide
September 22
Hit the road for National Scenic Byway Day. Louisiana's 17 byways span the state, highlighting Cajun and Creole history, lush wetlands, historic treasures and our unrivaled cuisine. It's the perfect excuse to turn up the tunes and cruise the state's soul-stirring roads.
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.
