A Look at Art, Music and Performance Spaces Around Acadiana

Acadians are bursting with creativity, whether it’s coming from our indigenous culture or from visiting visual and performing artists. Literally every corner of our region offers special cultural experiences. Whatever your passion desires when it comes to the arts, Acadiana satisfies.

Multi-Use Centers

Acadiana Center for the Arts (aca) | Lafayette

Lafayette’s non-profit Acadiana Center for the Arts, known to locals as the “AcA,” serves an eight-parish region. The community center features a theater, café and art galleries and hosts special events such as Gulf Brew, a beer-centric festival on Oct. 19, and music series such as Louisiana Crossroads.

Cité des Arts | Lafayette

There’s a little bit of everything at Cité des Arts. The main theater hosts musical, comedic and theatrical performances, while the Second Stage presents a space for smaller productions. There’s even a full bar for those thirsty intermissions.

South Louisiana Center for the Arts | Houma

Founded in 2021, the nonprofit SoLa provides visual and performing arts education in Houma.

Historic Rice Theatre

Historic Rice Theatre | Crowley

This historic Art Deco-style theater on Parkerson Avenue in downtown Crowley was built in the 1940s. Today, civic and community events, plus musical and theatrical performances utilize its stage.

NuNu Arts and Culture Collective | Arnaudville

“NUNU is a volunteer-run nonprofit that offers arts and cultural exchanges between local artists, Acadiana and cultural ambassadors from around the world,” said Peg Ramier, interim director. Upcoming events at the multi-use space include artist Denise Verret’s large-scale abstracts, the Breizh Amerika Collective and the NUNU Boo! Bash Fun-Fundraiser on Oct. 26.

Teche Theatre for the Performing Arts | Franklin

This professional community theater promotes live theater and arts education to both the residents of Franklin and St. Mary Parishes. The theater produces seasonal in-house productions throughout the year and special events for Christmas and other occasions.

Teche Center for the Arts (TCA) | Breaux Bridge

Teche Center for the Arts serves the cultural interests of St. Martin Parish with classes and services in music, art, theater and the literary arts in historic downtown Breaux Bridge’s 1940s-era movie theater. In addition, to help foster Cajun and Creole culture, TCA offers language classes.

Performing Arts Serving Acadiana (PASA) | Lafayette

PASA is a multidisciplinary bounty of arts including dance, theater, classical music, jazz music and more for the residents of Lafayette and beyond. There have an impressive, original list of programming, including the February 2025 show where music and words meet with Michael Doucet and John Warner Smith.

The Grand Opera House of the South | Crowley

This historic theater was built in 1901 to accommodate vaudeville, minstrel and operatic performances by the likes of Enrico Caruso. Other famous personalities who visited the 33,000-square-foot theater were Babe Ruth, Clark Gable and Louisiana Gov. Huey Long. Today, the restored venue hosts events by local organizations and performances by local and national talents. Tab Benoit performs Nov. 8 followed by Marc Broussard on Dec. 13.

Lafayette Ballet Theatre

Dance

Lafayette Ballet Theatre | Lafayette

The dance conservancy offers ballet instruction with performances by a combination of international principal guest artists and local dancers. Classical ballet performances are offered in the spring and the holiday classic “The Nutcracker,” which includes dozens of local students, during the holidays. lafayetteballettheatre.org

Thibodaux Playhouse

Theater

Le Petit Theatre de Terrebonne | Houma

Performances at this community theater range from comedy (“Rex’s Exes” Nov. 15-24) to literary-based plays (“The Diary of Anne Frank” Feb. 7-16, 2025), plays made into films (“Butterflies are Free” April 4-13, 2025) and Broadway musicals (“Into the Woods” July 11-27, 2025).

Abbey Players | Abbeville

Every year, this long-standing theater company produces four main-stage productions and a summer youth production at its historic theater in downtown Abbeville. Look for “The Rocky Horror Show” in October followed by “The Christmas Express” in December.

ACTS Theater | Lake Charles

“Chicago” closed out this year for this nonprofit theater group but looking into 2025, ACTS will present “Songs for a New World,” “Jake’s Women” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”

Thibodaux Playhouse | Thibodaux

The 65th season of this community theater features blockbusters such as “The Rocky Horror Show” in October and Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in December. Coming up in 2025 are “The Play That Goes Wrong” and “Sweeney Todd.”

IPAL | New Iberia

The Iberia Performing Arts League, known locally as IPAL, performs Broadway-style shows at the Sliman Theatre for the Performing Arts. Coming this fall is Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” Oct. 18-27.

Acadiana Symphony Orchestra

Symphonic & Pop Orchestras

Acadiana Symphony Orchestra & Conservatory of Music (ASO) | Lafayette

Now in its 40th year, the ASO provides both diverse orchestral performances and music education. Concerts range from masterworks and pops to performances with guest musicians and singers. There’s even an evening of cocktails and music at “Symphony in the Sky” Oct. 22 on top of the Silverstone Parking Garage in downtown Lafayette.

South Louisiana Community Orchestra (SLCO) | Houma

The SLCO is a string orchestra that offers concerts throughout the year, from its spring concert of classics to patriotic performances at Houma’s Regional Military Museum.

Lake Charles Community Band | Lake Charles

This Southwest Louisiana band offers an opportunity for musicians of all ages and skill to rehearse and perform throughout the city. Performances include the Red, White, Blue and You July 4th event at the Lake Charles Event Center and concerts at McNeese University, among many others.

Lafayette Concert Band

Lafayette Concert Band | Lafayette

It’s hard not to feel patriotic when the Lafayette Concert Band performs their annual Memorial Day Concert. And this is one reason the band was awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll by the John Philip Sousa Foundation, one of the most prestigious awards for community concert bands. Look for their fall concert Oct. 6 at Lafayette High School and their “Sounds of the Season” on Dec. 13.

Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center and Black Heritage Gallery

Art Galleries & Art Walks

Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center and Black Heritage Gallery | Lake Charles

The Historic City Hall — itself an art piece of architecture — has been repurposed as an arts and cultural center exhibiting world-class exhibitions on national tour as well as works from local and regional artists. The building is also home to the Black Heritage Gallery and Gallery by the Lake. On view now is “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” a national photo exhibit of America’s birds. Coming up is “Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence” opening Oct. 18 and “Snow Village & Christmas Card Workshop” in December.

Hilliard Art Museum

Hilliard Art Museum | Lafayette

There’s an impressive 11,000 square feet of gallery space at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus. Exhibits change out regularly and special events are offered throughout the year. “Rodin: Toward Modernity,” an exhibit featuring 40 bronze sculptures by Auguste Rodin, will open Oct. 24.

Art Walk at A & E Gallery

A & E Gallery | New Iberia

Local artist Paul Schexnayder oversees this 2000-square-foot gallery filled with artwork from more than 15 regional artists. Look for paintings, stained glass, ceramics, collage, repurposed journals, woodworking, metal art, jewelry, books and gift items. In other words, just about anything!

ArtWalk | Lafayette

Galleries, art centers such as Cité des Arts, the ACA and restaurants celebrate the second Saturday of the month in downtown Lafayette. Second Saturday ArtWalk debuts new art exhibits and restaurants feature live music and specials.

Literary Organizations and Events

Books Along the Teche Literary Festival | New Iberia

This weekend festival that honors authors, artists, historians and the legacy of New Iberia author James Lee Burke happens every Spring in downtown New Iberia.

Jambalaya Writers’ Conference | Terrebonne Parish Library

Now in its 19th year, the annual Jambalaya Writers’ Conference brings together writers, authors and publishing agents. This year’s event will be Saturday, Oct. 5.

Writers Guild of Acadiana | Lafayette

Writers of all genres are welcome to join the Writers Guild, which meets the last Tuesday of the month at the South Regional Branch of the Lafayette Public Library. Meetings are free and open to the public.