Fall Louisiana Festivals

Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival - Morgan City, LA - Aug 29 to Sep 2, 2024
This festival began in 1936 and has only grown and improved. Parade, food, music, arts & crafts, festival king and queen.

Zydeco Festival & Poker Run - Natchitoches, LA - Aug 31, 2024
Raises money for various community functions around Natchitoches Parish through fun events – Zydeco music, a dance contest, motorcycle Poker Run, food and fun for the entire family

Oldies but Goodies Fest - Port Allen, LA - Sep 7, 2024
All day music, great food, fun, and more. Put on your poodle skirts, bell bottom pants, white t-shirts and sneakers, live music on stage both days will help you remember the ol’ days, plus antique car show, hula hoop, jitterbug contests and Poker run. There will also be a BBQ contest. Starts daily at 11 am.

Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival - Natchitoches, LA - Sep 13 to Sep 14, 2024
Annual Meat Pie Festival and River Run, held along the riverbank in downtown Natchitoches, hosted By The Independent Motorcycle Riders Of Natchitoches. Food, music, arts and crafts, kids games and dancing. Free admission.

Alligator Festival - Luling, LA - Sep 26 to Sep 29, 2024
Music, food, arts and crafts, golf tournament, 5K race and 1/2 mile kids run. Held at West Bank Bridge Park, it is a fundraiser for The Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish.

Sugar Cane Festival - New Iberia, LA - Sep 26 to Sep 29, 2024
Annual event for 70+ years hosted by the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival Association. Farm fest and 4H livestock show, 5K, parade, car show, fairgrounds and carnival, flower show, art show, photography show, and more!

Red River Revel Arts Festival - Shreveport, LA - Sep 28 to Oct 6, 2024
Nearly 200,000 attend the largest outdoor arts festival in North Louisiana. Started in 1976 as part of Louisiana’s bicentenial celebration. $10 Reveler pass gets you in each of the nine days.

Gretna Heritage Fest - Gretna, LA - Oct 4 to Oct 6, 2024
25 city blocks of carnival rides and games, German beer garden, Latino Village, Italian Village, arts & crafts, live music and more.

Lake Charles Film & Music Festival - Lake Charles, LA - Oct 4 to Oct 5, 2024
Annual event for 5+ years. Independent film screenings, seminars, parties, networking, live music, cajun food and more.

Louisiana Cattle Festival - Abbeville, LA - Oct 4 to Oct 6, 2024
Annual event for 60+ years. Pageant, hot air balloons, parade, livestock show, live music, cajun hospitality and more.

Fried Chicken Festival - New Orleans, LA - Oct 5 to Oct 6, 2024
The National Fried Chicken (FREE) Festival takes place along the Lakefront. Celebrate this Southern favorite with food, live entertainment, and festivities, including a Chicken Wing Eating contest and a Best Fried Chicken contest. 35 restaurants will be slinging their chicken and there will be live music on two stages.

Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival - Bogalusa, LA - Oct 5, 2024
Lots of family fun with children’s activities, food vendors, crafts and music from around the world.

Denham Springs Fall Festival - Denham Springs, LA - Oct 5, 2024
Hundreds of vendors, games, kiddie rides, food booths, antique stores to shop, view art exhibits, tour the Old City Hall Exhibits, listen to music at the Old Train Station, and more

Roberts Cove Germanfest - Roberts Cove, LA - Oct 5 to Oct 6, 2024
Roberts Cove is a small community that celebrates its German heritage with this annual festival the first weekend of October. Authentic German food, German beer on tap, live entertainment and family friendly environment with children’s activities. In conjunction with the event, they run a home brew contest sanctioned by the American Homebrew Association. The event is sponsored by the Roberts Cove Germanfest Association. Past attractions and entertainment have included live music by German bands and folk singers, an antique farm equipment display, blacksmith demonstrations, folklore presentations and the German Heritage Museum. Location: 7212 Roberts Cove Road, Rayne, LA 70578

German-Acadian Coast Historical and Genealogical Society Oktoberfest - Destrehan, LA - Oct 5, 2024
Oktoberfest luncheon

Tamale Fiesta - Zwolle, LA - Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2024
Annual event to celebrate the Spanish and Indian heritage of the town with hot tamales, entertainment, arts and crafts, dancing, parades, and children’s activities.

Gentilly Fest - New Orleans, LA - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
From its beginning, the annual Gentilly Fest has aimed to raise funds to aid in the rebuilding and continued growth of the Gentilly area. Enjoy live music, kids area, food, and more

Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival - New Orleans, LA - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
Live music, Southern barbecue and fun in Lafayette Square. Admission is free at Lafayette Square Park.

Louisiana Gumbo Festival - Thibodaux, LA - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
Annual event in the Gumbo Capital of Louisiana, with music, rides, food and more. Free admission, free parking.

Deutsches Haus Oktoberfest - New Orleans, LA - Oct 11 to Oct 26, 2024
This New Orleans Oktoberfest is quite a party! It is open Friday and Saturdays in October. They feature authentic German music, foods, and beverages. Lots of fun activities throughout the day.

New Orleans Film Festival - New Orleans, LA - Oct 16 to Oct 22, 2024
Hosted by multiple theatres across the city, the film festival gives out awards in seven different categories with prize packages that include thousands of dollars’ worth of camera packages, software, film stock, cash prizes and more. In addition to screenings, there are parties and other events, and celebrities are often in attendance. Individual screening tickets are available but can go quickly, so the All-Access Pass (which among other benefits guarantees tickets to all festival screenings) is the better bet

Washington Parish Free Fair - Franklinton, LA - Oct 16 to Oct 20, 2024
A family fair started in 1911. It is believed to be the largest county/parish free fair in America and the second oldest parish fair in Louisiana. Parade, 5K run, midway, country market, fair queen, rodeo and live music.

International Rice Festival - Crowley, LA - Oct 17 to Oct 20, 2024
Louisiana’s oldest agricultural festival. Pageant, poker rice run, 5K run/walk, classic car show, parades, rice creole & cookery contest, rice eating contest, live music and carnival. It is usually held on the Friday and Saturday of the third weekend in October.

Andouille Festival - LaPlace, LA - Oct 18 to Oct 20, 2024
Dedicated to the sausage it is named after, event includes Andouille eating contest, gumbo cook-off and jazz brunch, among other activities.

Rougarou Fest - Houma, LA - Oct 18 to Oct 20, 2024
Celebrate the folklore of Southeast Louisiana’s bayous with a family friendly festival. It is a fundraiser for the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center.

Wooden Boat Festival - Madisonville, LA - Oct 19 to Oct 20, 2024
Visitors will have plenty to do including viewing an amazing assortment of boats. Last yearÂ’s lineup included luggers, skiffs, trawlers, work boats, cruisers, sailboats and more. Enjoy live music, food, children’s area, children’s boat building, team boat building, car and motorcycle show, beer garden and more.

Greater Baton Rouge State Fair - Baton Rouge, LA - Oct 24 to Nov 3, 2024
Petting zoo, pig races, lawn tractor pull, carnival, food and more. Since 1965.

Blackpot Festival - Lafayette, LA - Oct 25 to Oct 26, 2024
Annual event for 10+ years. Live music, cook-off, dancing and camping in Vermilionville Historic Village. Admission tickets are $25-55.

Shreveport Brew - Shreveport, LA - Oct 26, 2024
Annual beer festival, held since 2009.

Big Easy Halloween Half and 5k - New Orleans, LA - Oct 27, 2024
Half and mini marathons. After party with live music.

Louisiana Pecan Harvest Festival - Colfax, LA - Nov 1 to Nov 3, 2024
Held annually on the first full weekend in November. Parade, Queen’s Ball, fireworks, live music and contests. Profits are donated to the parish schools.

Giant Omelette Celebration - Abbeville, LA - Nov 2 to Nov 3, 2024
Watch them cook a 5000 egg omelette. Egg cracking contest, arts & crafts show, antique car/implement show, charity walk and live music.

Beignet Fest - New Orleans, LA - Nov 16, 2024
From traditional sweet treats covered in powdered sugar to savory options bursting with seafood, cheese and more, Beignet Fest will feature different beignet dishes from some of New Orleans’ best restaurants and food trucks. In true NOLA style, the festival also features live, local music performances, a Kid’s Village, Artist Market and VIP Experience. Proceeds from Beignet Fest benefit the Tres Doux Foundation, which makes grants to nonprofits serving children with developmental delays.

Bayou Classic – Thanksgiving Parade and College Football Game - New Orleans, LA - Nov 28 to Nov 30, 2024
Catch the classic parade as it moves from the French Market to the Superdome then watch the Tigers of Grambling State and the Jaguars of Southern University compete in the Bayou Clash. Other events include a battle between the schools’ two marching bands, and more throughout the week.

Turkey Day Race - New Orleans, LA - Nov 28, 2024
Established in 1907, the New Orleans Athletic Club’s Turkey Day Race is one of the oldest, continuously held non-marathon races in the United States. Starting and finishing at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans City Park, the morning includes 5 Mile and kids’ half-mile run / walk races. Families from around the country have made this event one of their favorite holiday traditions, with multiple generations participating year after year. Proceeds benefit Spina Bifida of Louisiana.

Baton Rouge Turkey Trot - Baton Rouge, LA - Nov 28, 2024
Celebrating its 35th year, the Turkey Trot returns to Downtown Baton Rouge on the morning of Thanksgiving 2021. This race is a local thanksgiving tradition – one that serves the community by keeping them active and fit through racing and by partnering with the March of Dimes as a fund-raiser to help their organization financially and by spreading the word about the work they do. 5K or 1 mile fun run

Celebration in the Park - New Orleans, LA - Nov 29 to Jan 3, 2025
City Park’s largest fundraiser, Celebration in the Oaks, is the New Orleans holiday family tradition. This incredible light festival has enchanted Park visitors since the 1980s and is vital to the Park’s maintenance, care, and beautification year round. City Park’s famous oaks will be swathed in over a million twinkling lights and breathtaking light displays will be scattered throughout the 2.25-mile driving tour of the Park. The driving tour experience is approximately 30 to 47 minutes.

Fleur de Lis Arts and Crafts Festival - Natchitoches, LA - Nov 30, 2024
A one day indoor show of artisans and craftsmen held twice a year. In the fall it is the Saturday after Thanksgiving at the Natchitoches Events Center.

Bridge City Gumbo Festival - Bridge City, LA - Oct 13 to Oct 15, 2023
2024 – canceled due to parish changes. Hope to come back. Description: 2000 pounds of gumbo is served to visitors annually. Gumbo cooking contest, beautiful child contest, crafts, midway and delicious cajun cuisine, including jambalaya, red beans and rice and more.

Northeast Louisiana Celtic Fest - West Monroe, LA - Oct 7, 2023
Live music, Highland games, artisan and craft vendors, and food trucks.

Carnaval Latino - New Orleans, LA - Oct 8, 2022
Come celebrate the Latin music, food, culture and art that make up New Orleans at the Carnaval Latino! There will be live music from some of the area’s top Latin artists, a 20 float parade representing different countries of the Americas, a variety of Latin food vendors and unique arts and crafts! It will be held at the Generations Hall on Higgins Blvd

New Orleans Burlesque Festival - New Orleans, LA - Sep 22 to Sep 25, 2022
The main event is the declaration of the Queen of Burlesque, a striptease competition to jazz music. Enjoy performances of all kinds, including variety, acro, sideshow, circus, magic, and more during each Burlesque show!

Canal Street Lighting Ceremony - New Orleans, LA - Nov 23, 2021
Join the Downtown Development District and Canal Place to “flip the switch” and light Canal Street.

Treme Creole Gumbo Festival - New Orleans, LA - Nov 12 to Nov 13, 2021
Many varieties of gumbo, including a vegan gumbo contest. Live music including jazz and R&B. Free admission, held at Armstrong Park.

Voodoo Music + Arts Experience - New Orleans, LA - Oct 29 to Oct 31, 2021
Canceled for 2022. Normally: The musical lineup is typically announced in June. Enjoy music, art, community, food, and all the mystery that Halloween in New Orleans can bring up. There are over 65 bands in three days! Shuttle and parking passes are also available. Held at New Orleans City Park.

Louisiana Cotton Festival - Ville Platte, LA - Oct 19 to Oct 24, 2021
Cotton Queen and King, parade, carnival and live music.

St Pascal’s Herbal Harvest - West Monroe, LA - Oct 16, 2021
28th annual event moves to the West Conroe Convention Center on Ridge, where over 50 vendors will be selling arts and crafts, plus a bake sale, an herb and plant sale from the NE Louisiana Master Gardeners, and more! Vending opportunities available as of July 18, 2019 – contact the church via the information on the vendor form on their site.

Art for Arts’ Sake - New Orleans, LA - Oct 2, 2021
Hundreds of chic galleries and shops along Magazine Street will open their doors to kick off what is considered the opening day of the cityÂ’s art season. or three hours, buyers and art lovers alike are welcome to browse the galleries, and in many cases, visit with the artists whose work is being shown. In recent years, over 30,000 people have come out for the event, making it one massive art party. Come enjoy food, drink, live music and art

French Market Tree Lighting Ceremony - New Orleans, LA - Nov 22, 2019
Ring in the holidays with the French Market’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Washington Artillery Park! Enjoy live musical performances and the Tree Lighting Ceremony immediately followed by a fireworks display. Free and open to the public.

Tensas Pecan Festival - Waterproof, LA - Oct 25 to Oct 27, 2010
The Tensas Pecan Festival is a 3 day arts festival that will have a stage of live music each night, arts & craft vendors, food vendors, a pecan bake-off, barbecue cook-off and much, much more.

Harvest Festival on False River - New Roads, LA - Oct 18 to Oct 20, 2019
Features live music plus carnival rides, food, over 100 arts and craft vendors, free Kids Zone, and adult Beer Garden