40th Anniversary Book Celebrates Festival International
From its inception to now, Festival International de Louisiane has grown from a $150,000 budget event with 100,000 attendees to a $2.3 million event with 300,000 attendees.
2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the Festival International de Louisiane.
To honor the festival’s history and culture, Herman Mhire, the founding board president, wrote and edited the 40th anniversary book, which includes never-before-seen images and stories.
Mhire shares that the bilingual book, which took two years to make, is also a celebration of Louisiana’s French-speaking heritage.
The publication will be shared with French-speaking countries around the world. “A bilingual edition was essential,” said Mhire.
“I hope readers appreciate the extraordinary support the citizens of Lafayette and Louisiana have given the festival since its debut 40 years ago—and how warmly our community welcomes cultures from around the world,” said Mhire.
According to organizers, the Festival International de Louisiane is the largest international music festival in the U.S.
The festival happens every April for a five-day celebration of music, food and handcrafted artwork from around the world, with no ticket required for entrance.
Mhire shares that, for the festival’s 10th anniversary, he edited “Rythmes du Monde Francophone.” This initial bilingual publication helped establish a tradition of documenting the Festival International’s history and cultural impact.
The 40th anniversary book continues and expands that tradition.
“This book is many things: a fresh retelling of Festival’s history, the compelling story of an organization that has been at times fragile, other times enduring and a joyful collection of remembrances and stunning photographs that commemorate it all,” said Scott Feehan, executive director of Festival International de Louisiane.
“It also reminds us of the value that Festival brings to our community—from educational and cultural enrichment to economic development, tourism and international relationships,” said Freehan.
The book is available for purchase on the festival’s website.
