With as a lot music, meals and pageant occasions happening in New Orleans this spring, it may be simple to overlook there’s a novel state on the market to discover. Communities throughout Louisiana host spring festivals celebrating their native tradition, meals and music. Listed here are 5 festivals arising in April and Might price hitting the street to take a look at.
Louisiana Lao New 12 months Competition
Simply south of Broussard in Acadiana sits the residential enclave Lanexang Village, dwelling to a small Lao group. There are about 60 properties within the Iberia Parish village, however each Easter weekend, Lanexang Village and its Theravada Buddhist temple, Wat Thammarattanaram, explode with guests for a three-day celebration of the Laotian New 12 months. The pageant attracts Laotians from throughout the state and nation in addition to individuals from throughout south Louisiana for a parade, stay music, a magnificence pageant, sandcastle constructing, youngsters’ actions and extra. There is also a big market of distributors promoting Southeast Asian dishes, garments, jewellery and artwork.
The Louisiana Lao New 12 months Competition celebrates the 12 months of the Rabbit on Friday, April 7, via Sunday, April 9, in Lanexang Village. Basic admission is free, and VIP all-access tickets can be found for $50 by way of eventbrite.com. Discover extra info and a schedule of occasions at fb.com/louisianalaonewyear.
Ponchatoula Strawberry Competition
Plenty of cities and cities lay declare to the title of “Strawberry Capital of the World,” however Ponchatoula makes a superb case for it. Within the early twentieth century, strawberries have been a significant crop in Louisiana, and whereas the variety of strawberry farms has dwindled as the broader farming trade has modified, Tangipahoa Parish nonetheless leads the state in strawberry manufacturing.
The Ponchatoula Strawberry Competition celebrates the strawberry and the state’s farmers with a float parade, two phases of music, a strawberry consuming contest, and distributors promoting arts, crafts and meals — with loads of strawberry gadgets. The music lineup consists of The Phunky Monkeys, Tyler Kinchen & The Proper Items, Parish County Line, Thomas Cain, Dukes of Nation, Souled Out and extra. The free pageant runs Friday, April 14, via Sunday, April 16, in Ponchatoula’s Memorial Park. Discover extra info at lastrawberryfestival.com.
Baton Rouge Blues Competition
Blues historical past runs deep in Baton Rouge. Musicians like Slim Harpo, Lightnin’ Slim and Lazy Lester gave beginning to the unhurried, soulful swamp blues — influential on the British rockers of the ’60s, just like the Rolling Stones and Yardbirds. Residing legend Buddy Man acquired his begin in Baton Rouge earlier than storming Chicago, and guitarists like Chris Thomas King, Kenny Neal and Smokehouse Porter maintain the blues alive on phases throughout the nation.
Since 1981, the Baton Rouge Blues Competition has been honoring that native historical past whereas highlighting a few of the finest blues musicians from throughout the nation. The 2023 pageant runs Friday, April 21, via Sunday, April 23, in downtown Baton Rouge and options Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Elizabeth King, Southern Avenue, The Peterson Brothers, TC Carter Band and extra throughout three phases. Basic admission is free, and there are $200 VIP passes accessible. Discover extra info at batonrougebluesfestival.org.
Competition Worldwide de Louisiane
For greater than 35 years, Competition Worldwide de Louisiane has introduced Louisiana expertise and worldwide musicians collectively in downtown Lafayette — and made many people make the unimaginable alternative whether or not to go to Competition Worldwide or Jazz Fest’s first weekend. The pageant’s worldwide artists typically share cultural roots with Louisiana peoples — French, Spanish, Caribbean, West African and extra — demonstrating the numerous international connections in Louisiana music.
This yr’s lineup options Christian singer Lauren Daigle, Benin singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo, French reggae band Dub Inc, New Orleans’ Tank and the Bangas, conventional Korean ensemble ADG7, Los Angeles Chicano band Las Cafeteras and plenty of extra. Together with the music, there can be dozens of arts, crafts and meals distributors on the pageant. Competition Worldwide runs Wednesday, April 26, via Sunday, April 30, and is free to attend. Discover extra info at festivalinternational.org.
Louisiana Pirate Competition
There’s a legend in Lake Charles that the pirate Jean Lafitte would use the world’s waterways as a base and hideout — and even hid treasure someplace within the space now often called Contraband Bayou. Nobody has ever discovered the treasure, however Lake Charles embraced the pirate tales — search for the crossed pistols lining the more and more treacherous Calcasieu River Bridge — and Contraband Days began in 1958. Now often called the Louisiana Pirate Competition, the occasion opens yearly with a gaggle of buccaneers touchdown on the Lake Charles Civic Heart, elevating the Jolly Roger and capturing the mayor, who’s then made to stroll the plank.
This yr’s Louisiana Pirate Competition runs Thursday, Might 4, via Sunday, Might 14, with music, carnival rides, arts distributors and meals in downtown Lake Charles. The stay music schedule has not but been introduced, however extra info might be discovered at louisianapiratefestival.com.