8 of Louisiana’s Lesser Known, Most Unique Festivals
Louisiana is home to over 400 annual festivals. In fact, we have so many annual festivals in Louisiana we are the official "Festival Capital of the World".
Sure, we all know about The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, The New Iberia Sugarcane Festival, Jazz Festival, and more, but it's impossible to know about them all.
That being said, let's take a look at some of Louisiana's lesser known, more unique festival you might not know exist.
Louisiana's Lesser Known, Unique Festivals
In Louisiana, there are more festivals than days in a year.
These festivals range from large, internationally known events like Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to smaller, community-focused gatherings like the Crawfish Festival and the Natchitoches Christmas Festival.
From airboatadventures.com -
"There isn’t a state in America that celebrates how Louisiana does. Louisiana is hands down one of the most festive states in the United States. The people of Louisiana have mastered the art of throwing a festival, and they have the party skills to back it up!"
Below are a handful of lesser known, unique Louisiana festivals you may have never heard of.
1. The Haynesville Butterfly Festival - Haynesville Louisiana
The Haynesville Butterfly Festival is a unique annual event held in Haynesville, Louisiana, celebrating the beauty and significance of butterflies, particularly focusing on the monarch butterfly migration through the region.
The festival highlights the town's connection to nature, wildlife conservation, and community engagement.
One of the main attractions is the live butterfly release, where attendees can witness hundreds of butterflies being set free, creating a beautiful visual display while promoting awareness of butterfly conservation.
The 2024 Butterfly Festival has already been held, but you can keep up and make your plans for next year over at haynesvillela.org.
2. Pecan Pie Contest and Festival - Mound, Louisiana
Not to be confused with the Louisiana Pecan Festival in Colfax, the Pecan Pie Contest and Festival held annually in the small town of Mound, Louisiana, this festival showcases the culinary heritage of Louisiana, particularly focusing on pecans, a major crop in the region.
The centerpiece of the festival is the pecan pie baking contest, where locals and visitors compete to make the best pecan pie. Judges evaluate entries based on taste, presentation, and creativity.
Beyond pecan pies, the festival features a variety of vendors selling pecan-related products, such as pecan pralines, roasted pecans, pecan candies, and more.
3. The Oakdale World Championship Hog Calling Contest - Oakdale, Louisiana
The Oakdale World Championship Hog Calling Contest is a quirky and entertaining annual event held in Oakdale, Louisiana, that celebrates...well, hog calling.
The main event is the hog calling contest, where contestants use their voices to mimic the sounds used to call hogs.
In addition to hog calling, the event sometimes includes other contests or festivities, such as livestock shows or agricultural exhibits.
4. The Sabine Freestate Festival - The Village of Florien
From explorelouisiana.com -
"The Sabine Freestate Festival, a family-friendly event held in the village of Florien, honors the strange and fascinating past of this region that was once known as “the Neutral Strip,” a buffer zone between Spain and the United States in the years following the Louisiana Purchase.
The festival honors its quirky history with crafts, games, a parade, a treasure hunt, quilting demonstrations, bull rides, Wild West-style shootouts and much more."
5. Louisiana Corn Festival - Bunkie, Louisiana
A festival that celebrates everything corn! From corn-shucking competitions to corn-eating contests, this small-town event highlights the importance of corn in local agriculture.
The festival hosts live music performances featuring local bands, country artists, and Cajun and Zydeco music.
A big highlight is the Corn Festival Parade, which features floats, marching bands, and community organizations celebrating the town’s agricultural roots.
6. The Louisiana Squirrel Festival - Mer Rouge, Louisiana
The Louisiana Squirrel Festival is an offbeat, small-town event held in Mer Rouge, Louisiana, celebrating the area's love for hunting and its rural traditions, particularly focusing on squirrels.
The Squirrel Festival stands out as one of the more quirky celebrations, combining outdoor activities, local food, and fun, squirrel-themed entertainment.
7. Cochon de Lait Festival - Mansura, Louisiana
The Cochon de Lait Festival is an annual event held in Mansura, Louisiana, celebrating the traditional Cajun method of slow-roasting a whole pig over an open fire, known as cochon de lait.
In addition to cochon de lait, attendees can enjoy a variety of Cajun and Creole dishes, including boudin, cracklins, jambalaya, gumbo, and more.
8. The Watermelon Festival - Farmerville, Louisiana
At The Watermelon Festival in Farmerville, you'll find a watermelon-seed spitting contest, watermelon eating competitions, live music, and a parade featuring watermelon-themed floats.
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Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz