Youngsville Openings, Pet-Friendly Restaurants & More Around Acadiana
Youngsville
The Latin-owned brunch and coffee brand Bistrology (founded in Miramar Beach, Florida) is opening soon in Youngsville featuring its signature over-the-top theatrical coffee service, vibrant Latin-fusion cuisine and a jungle-inspired setting and patio. Also in Youngsville is the recently opened Dumpling Hour with creative Asian fusion cuisine. Swig, known for its customizable “dirty sodas” and sweet treats, will be adding flavor to Youngsville in 2026.
Houma
By Land and by Sea
In Houma, the pet-friendly Daybreaks Waterside Restaurant is underway featuring an outdoor dining area and a 100-foot dock. Boaters can pull up to the dock, head to the main deck and enjoy live music or watch the games while sampling Cajun and coastal cuisine. The beloved BBQ eatery, Big Mike’s, is relocating to a much larger area on Highway 311 featuring outdoor seating and a bandstand for live music.
Lafayette
New Places & Faces
Opened in October in Lafayette’s mid-city area, CuGino is a chic new Italian haven from Gene Todaro (co-founder of Marcello’s) and Hunter Moody. The lifelong friends have reimagined the Sicilian dining experience with modern sensibilities, enhanced by signature wines featured in a glass-enclosed wine display. A casual eatery, Fish Box Sushi, opened in September featuring a unique pay-by-weight, self-serve experience at Settler’s Trace. Johnston St. is seeing a lot of action. Legends Bar & Grill is relocating to a larger stand-alone spot on Johnston Street featuring an additional 2,100-square-foot patio (at Camelia Boulevard) Tré Roux, a new Cajun-Creole restaurant, is undergoing renovations to replace Twin Peaks (closed in July) on Johnston Street. The Baton Rouge-based Roul’s Deli, known for its signature “Juicy Juicy” burgers, is also underway on Johnston Street (near the UL campus) featuring such signature items as the massive LOLO burger stacked with chicken, shrimp, steak and bacon. The West Coast-based coffee chain Dutch Bros. Coffee is nearing completion on Johnston Street (in front of Acadiana Mall) featuring a two-lane drive-thru (no indoor seating) and walk-up windows.
Scott, New Iberia, Carencro, Broussard
From Tacos and Tequila to Pastries and Pizza
In Scott, construction is underway for Pedro’s Tacos & Tequila Bar opening in early 2026 (known in Lafayette for its fajitas, specialty margaritas and live music). Lizzie’s (Opelousas) has opened a second location in downtown New Iberia. The full-service restaurant and bakery features craft cocktails, creative daily specials and sweets served amid vintage posters and banquettes. A new Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux is opening in Carencro with enhanced acoustics and strategically placed TVs for better game-day viewing. A second location of Lafayette’s Central Pizza & Bar recently opened in Broussard (formerly Market Eatz) featuring popular starters including their signature Central dip, garlic knots with pistachio pesto and cauliflower wings.
Agenda
December 1 | Annual Christmas Lighting in Berwick
See Santa arrive by boat at the lighthouse in Berwick and enjoy snacks, carols and pictures with the jolly old Christmas elf.
December 5-6 | Jingle Jamz in Rayne
The two-day lineup features the best of Cajun, country and holiday music, with a gumbo cook-off as lagniappe.
December 6 | Houma Downtown Christmas Festival
Houma’s holiday highlights illuminate the Christmas parade, annual Christmas tree contest and storytelling by Mrs. Claus on the courthouse steps.
December 13 | Abbeville’s Cajun Christmas Celebration
Families line the streets to see Santa’s magical lighted parade, then gather in Magdalen Square for free pictures with Santa in the gazebo. Festivities include a classic car show, giant food village, holiday Christmas market and live music.
December 13 | Paris a la Breaux Bridge
Breaux Bridge hosts an annual art walk and Christmas market in the historic downtown area amid quaint shops, antique emporiums and Cajun restaurants with weekend jam sessions.
December 13 | New Roads Boat Parade and Lighting
Locals and visitors alike head to New Roads for the annual False River Boat Parade and Lighting to see boats of all kinds decorated with whimsical Christmas lights flickering on False River.
December 27, January 3, 8-10 | Louisiana Fur & Wildlife Festival
Held in downtown Cameron, the festival kicks off with a queen’s pageant and culminates with annual competitions including duck and goose calling, trap setting and oyster shucking. A gumbo cook-off, antique vehicle show, a carnival and a parade add to the fun.
January 3 | Twelfth Night Parade Extravaganza
Revelers have a chance to win lavish grand prizes, dance all night and hail the kings and queens of over 60 local krewes in the Lake Charles Event Center Coliseum. New this year is the KidZone.
January 10 | Weenie Spaghetti Festival
The second annual family festival in downtown Houma has weenie spaghetti teams vying for titles along with local craft vendors and live music by the Kerry Thibodaux Band and Nonc Nu & Da Wild Matous rocking out, bayou style.
January 17 | Festival de la Vie
Held in downtown Lafayette’s Parc San Souci, the festival’s motto is “Respect, protect and serve all life together.” It begins with an ecumenical prayer walk followed by music, a guest speaker, local food and family games.
January 31 | Louisiana King Cake Festival
Revelers eager for Carnival to begin can sample an impressive variety of king cakes while enjoying live music and a parade in Thibodaux, hosted by the Lafourche Education Foundation.
