It’s Carnival, Dahling!
Round up of what's happening in Acadiana
Photo Courtesy Visit Lake Charles
Twelfth Night Revelry | Lake Charles
Carnival season makes its flamboyant entrance with the Twelfth Night Parade Extravaganza (January 4) at the Lake Charles Event Center. Revelers hail the kings and queens of over 60 Mardi Gras krewes as they parade in elaborate costumes. This year, guests who find “babies” in slices of king cake will be the lucky recipients of lavish grand prizes from local businesses. Some of the costumes will be exhibited in the new Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu that will showcase over 50 years of costumes, opening in late 2025 in the Nellie Lutcher Cultural District. A “wagging, talking dog,” Norah Jean, will be among the animatronics guiding visitors through the lifelike exhibits (visitlakecharles.org/event/mardi-gras-twelfth-night/46271/).
Light Up the Night | St. Martinville
The faith-based St. Lucy Festival of Lights (December 14) emulates the true meaning of Christmas with a live nativity, Holy Mass and the lighting of St. Martin de Tours Church Square. Train rides, a chariot parade, live Cajun music and food, a scavenger hunt and appearances by Mr. and Mrs. Claus add to the merriment. Visitors should check out the significantly transformed, nearby St. Martinville courthouse, a project that began in 2016 (cajuncountry.org/event/st-lucy-festival-of-lights/725/).
Come One, Come Y’all | Thibodaux
The Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown will be rolling into Thibodaux (January 30-February 2). The international roller derby tournament will pit high-level roller derby teams against each other over four action-packed days (yallstars.com).
A Victorian State of Mind | Jefferson Island
Experience an Old South Victorian Christmas at the circa 1870 Joseph Jefferson Home (named for the actor who built a hunting lodge on Jefferson Island and played the part of Rip Van Winkle on stage over 4500 times) and the 15-acre, semi-tropical Rip Van Winkle Gardens, both festively decorated for the season (through December 31; ripvanwinklegardens.com). Enjoy the soul-warming chicken and sausage gumbo for lunch at Café Jefferson and asked to be seated in the glassed-in porch with a stunning view of Lake Peigneur.
Photo Courtesy Patacon Latin Cuisine
Casual New Eateries | Youngsville
Patacon Latin Cuisine, a locally owned Latin American restaurant known for its authentic cuisine, is expanding into Youngsville (208 Centre Sarcelle, next to CC’s Coffee House; facebook.com/PataconLLC). Jersey Mike’s recently opened in Youngsville (1911 Chemin Metairie Parkway) inside a newly constructed center in front of Sugar Mill Pond, featuring the signature Jersey Mike’s decor, artwork and surfboards. For added convenience, the new location has a pickup window (jerseymikes.com).
Cool School, New Rules | Broussard
The city of Broussard will be the location of the third charter school in Lafayette Parish. Approval was granted to the Lafayette Charter Foundation, Inc., to establish Broussard Charter Academy, a Type 2 charter school, by the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. A Type 2 charter school does not have an enrollment restriction by school districts and can enroll students from across the state or region. (lafayettecharterfoundation.org).
Aglow on the Bayou | New Iberia
Celebrate New Iberia’s Christmas Parade and holiday events (December 9-14; bayoutraditions.com) including Pancakes & PJs with Santa, a Taste of Main, Santa in the City and the Queen City Christmas Festival. More than 100,000 Christmas lights are installed throughout the downtown parade route for the Queen City Christmas Parade. The events culminate with an evening boat parade and fireworks on Bayou Teche from the Lewis Street Bridge (Bayou Landing) to the Jefferson Street Bridge (Pelicans on the Bayou).
Leading the Way | Lafayette
Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) has announced the selection of global experiential design and technology company Art Processors and local architecture firm Moliere Chappuis Architects to lead the design of the Louisiana Music Museum (LMM), to be housed in the Historic Lafayette Hardware Store (121 W. Vermilion St.) next door to the AcA, as part of a complete historic renovation and site redevelopment (opening in 2026). Grammy nominated musician, Jane Vidrine, was recently appointed as inaugural director of the LMM (acadianacenterforthearts.org).
