VIDEO: Festival International Flag Raised over Lafayette City Hal

It's been three long years since the last edition of Festival International de Louisiane has taken over Downtown Lafayette. On Friday, Lafayette city leaders gave us another reminder that we're just a few short weeks away from Festival's return.

Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory raised the Festival International flag over city hall Friday morning to mark the start of Festival month. Guillory was joined by other city-parish officials and members of the current Leadership Lafayette class for the ceremony.

Bernadette Lee/TSM Photo

Reggae icons the Wailers will headline this year's Festival International. Per usual, groups from the Francophone world, including bands from Africa, Canada, and Louisiana compose most of this year's lineup. In addition, groups from Latin America, Ireland, and China will also be featured.

FestivalInternational.org

Festival International de Louisiana begins on Wednesday, April 27 with a Zydeco doubleheader featuring Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas and Li'l Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers. Those opening performances will take place at Scène Fais Do Do on Jefferon Street across from the new Municipal Lofts (the old federal courthouse building).

Festival International continues through Sunday, May 1.

For full details, including the schedule, a link to sign up to volunteer, and the Festival merchandise shop, go to the Festival International website by clicking here.

Seven Forgotten Facts About Lafayette

The area now known as downtown Lafayette was first settled 200 years ago. While the street grid of that original settlement is the same as it was then, the rest of the city has grown and changed exponentially. Let's take a look at some of those changes by taking a look at some of the forgotten facts in Lafayette history.