Insomnia Cookies, Café Nunu & More Around Acadiana
Lafayette
Insomnia Cookies, known for its late-night service (until 1 a.m.) and made-to-order cookies, is opening downtown in the former DBR space. A new dog-friendly 12,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor beer garden or “ice house” venue is underway in Lafayette’s expanding Bluebird Drive corridor featuring oak-shaded seating and food trucks. A new rooftop bar, restaurant and pickleball entertainment complex, Smash, is underway at the former Lafayette Health Club property (closed for over 15 years) on Kaliste Saloom.
Arnaudville | New at Nunu
Café Nunu recently opened at Nunu Arts and Collective in Arnaudville, the charming town situated on the border of St. Landry and St. Martin parishes that inspires Francophone creatives. The menu includes Rêve Coffee, regional daily specials, soups, sandwiches and nostalgic baked goods (classic jambo pressé elevated with fig confiture, squash cake and gâteau au thé sec).
Lafayette | More Newcomers
A new crawfish drive thru spot, Big Red’s, recently opened on Lafayette’s north side featuring farm-to-boil crawfish (also live crawfish) sourced from third-generation farmers (to track local prices, visit crawfishprices.com). Also downtown is Gravy, a new plate lunch concept (in the former Pat’s Downtown space) from the same team running Pamplona featuring Executive Chef Kris Allen. Following Festival International, the second phase will include a cocktail lounge.
Sunset | New French Immersion School
After nearly eight years of planning and renovation, the historic Sunset High School campus (abandoned for decades) has been fully rehabilitated, redesigned and renamed École St. Landry, a modernized French immersion school opening for the 2026-2027 school year.
AGENDA
April 3-5 | Louisiana Lao New Year Festival
The colorful celebration features traditional dance, temple ceremonies, authentic food and cultural performances in New Iberia.
April 9-11 | Louisiana Railroad Days
All aboard to DeQuincy for parades, pageants, games, scavenger hunts and music at the historic DeQuincy Railroad Museum Park.
April 10-12 | Books Along the Teche Literary Festival
The 10th annual literary fest features Southern authors, workshops, a book fair, tours and culinary events.
April 10-12 | Scott Boudin Festival
Acadiana’s top boudin purveyors with local bands, arts and crafts, Cajun and zydeco dance contests (with prizes) and a boudin eating contest.
April 13-16 | Balfa Week
The Cajun and Creole Music and Culture Camp in Eunice features five days of music lessons, jams and workshops led by masters.
April 18 | 2nd Annual Bourbon & Butts Cook-Off
A sizzling day of barbecue feasting and cook-offs as local chefs battle it out for the “Pork Butt Champion” title at Houma’s Courthouse Square.
April 22-26 | Festival International de Louisiane
The free celebration is the largest Francophone music and arts festival in the U.S., transforming downtown Lafayette into a global cultural stage with international talent and regional headliners.
April 24-26 | Steamboat Days Festival
Morgan City’s waterfront celebration honors the region’s maritime heritage with concerts, food and family entertainment.
April 26 | Laurel Valley Acadian Heritage Festival
A spring celebration of Cajun culture featuring music, food and artisan crafts is held in the 19th century Laurel Valley Village in Thibodaux.
May 1-3 | Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
Enjoy 30 popular Cajun and zydeco bands, dance contests, crawfish eating contests, crawfish races and cooking demos plus parades in the “Crawfish Capital of the World.”
May 2 | May the 4th Be With You Festival
This downtown Houma festival blends Star Wars fandom and philanthropy with live music, costumed revelers, The Empire Cooks Back cook-off and Wookiee Calling Contest.
May 7-9 | Rayne Frog Festival
Cajun food, carnival rides and frog-eating and racing contests are enlivened by Wayne Toups, 4Horses, Jamie Bergeron and headliner John Foster.
May 24 | Zydeco Extravaganza
Lafayette’s electrifying event includes music by Leon Chavis, Nathan Williams, aka Lil’ Nate (in a tribute to Sid Williams), Geno Delafose, Keith Frank and Tucka in Blackham Coliseum.
