
Mardi Gras and much more: Louisiana's best festivals
New Orleans' most famous festival is gloriously over-the-top, with several weeks of Mardi Gras parades and balls leading up to Shrove Tuesday, known locally as Fat Tuesday. While the UK rustles up a few pancakes, Louisiana embraces vibrancy, with 'krewes' in colourful costumes throwing gifts from their floats and hundred-strong marching bands blasting brass renditions of traditional classics and subverted pop hits.
The Mardi Gras balls were a European tradition that came to Louisiana with French settlement in the early 18th century, but the carnival-style parades developed later. Dozens of private membership clubs and organisations formed in the 19th and 20th centuries, creating the krewes that drive the Mardi Gras festivities today. Traditions, such as the 'throws' of gifts to the crowds and Rex, the King of Carnival, emerged over time.
But when the Mardi Gras floats return to their garages at the end of the celebrations, the festival scene in New Orleans and Louisiana doesn't wind down one bit. The state is home to more than 400 different festivals across the year, celebrating music, food and culture. Such events are a key part of Louisiana's character.
Making music
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is the best-known of Louisiana's music festivals, and it has morphed into something more than a few jazz concerts. In the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May, massive outdoor gigs spanning the genre take place at the Fair Grounds Race Course and the temporary villages showcasing traditional Louisiana life and Native American customs play an important role too.
April also plays host to the Baton Rouge Blues Festival, which embraces the seductively swampy side of the blues in the state capital. Later in the month, Lafayette opens itself to the planet at the Festival International de Louisiane. The focus for five days is on world music, although there are distinct Francophone leanings, with plenty of musicians from Canada and West Africa.
Time to feast
Music may be the food of love, but Louisiana firmly believes food can be the food of love, too. The lines between a food festival and a music festival are often hazy.
Mudbug Madness is an excellent example of this. Taking place in late May, the musical side of things concentrates on zydeco music, a blend of Afro-Caribbean, African-American and French influences. The food is also resolutely Cajun, and while there is variety among the food stalls, most revellers come to feast on crawfish.
In October, the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival embraces another Louisiana speciality – the po' boy sandwich. Oak Street in Uptown New Orleans sees numerous venues serve up a tantalising variety of fillings inside baguettes that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Shrimp and crawfish are, of course, the options with most local flavour.
Cultural celebrations
Louisiana's cultural festivals tend to celebrate a particular strand of local culture. The Italian Festival in the town of Tickfaw honours the waves of Italian-American immigrants that settled there. Taking place at the end of April, the festival combines pageants, parades, Italian food and live music.
The ESSENCE Festival of Culture in July, meanwhile, is largely about African-American music and culture. Big-name acts play at the Superdome in New Orleans, while several venues downtown open their doors for inspirational speakers.
Holiday spirit
In October, Houma in the bayous of southern Louisiana, holds Rougarou Fest, which gets its name from the mythical werewolf-like creature supposedly spotted amid the swamps. The festival leans into local folklore and general spookiness, but the activities and events are family-friendly.
At the end of the year, however, the place to be is in Louisiana's oldest European settlement, Natchitoches. Here, the Natchitoches Christmas Festival has become a six-week affair. 300,000 lights and more than 100 set-piece artworks line the historic centre, while the biggest set-piece event is a lighted boat procession along the Cane River.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Moment 'air scooter' bids to fly across English Channel
Franky Zapata, 46, attempted to cross the English Channel in his AirScooter as part of a bid to impress investors in the US and market it to a whole new audience across the Atlantic This is the moment an "air scooter" crashed into the water during a failed bid to cross the English Channel. A French start-up tried to make history on Friday by crossing the Channel using vertical take-off and landing craft. Franky Zapata, 46, hopped in his AirScooter in Sangatte, near Calais, in a bid to complete the 21-mile journey across the Channel toward Kent. He zoomed across the water but decided to turn back after 17 minutes. Just nine minutes later, the craft slowly nosedived into the sea as observers watched on from a nearby boat. The AirScooter team said an "electric parachute" had slowed the descent and prevented a freefall. Team members are now looking to recover the air scooter. Before the flight, Zapata said he was not "100 per cent sure" the craft would reach Dover, in Kent. He added: "We've been rehearsing the flight for months and months. "It's relatively good but it's still new. Sometimes everything goes well and sometimes not so well." Zapata had hoped a Channel crossing would be a massive opportunity to market the craft to American investors. The US currently has fewer regulations on ultralight aircraft compared to counterparts in Europe, including France and the UK. But the crash now indicates Zapata will need to examine the product to iron out any possible flaws with its design. The Times reported Zapata wants wealthy out-of-town homeowners "who want to fly to the neighbours' for a barbecue on a Sunday." He latter conceded, "they won't be able to use them over towns." The craft weighs about 115kg (253lbs) and was said to be able to fly about two hours and reach a speed of 62mph. The aircraft is estimated to cost about £149,000 and Zapata has announced he intends to open a flight centre in Las Vegas in 2028, that will give people the opportunity to try it out. Zapata crossed the Channel on a hoverboard n 2019, which cemented his reputation. He went on to be asked to fly over the Champ Elysées avenue in Paris for the Bastille Day parade about a year later.


STV News
2 hours ago
- STV News
Outlander fans flock to historic sites ahead of final season
The eighth and final season of Outlander will soon hit our screens with fans across the world braced for the end of an era. Since its debut in 2014, the blockbuster series has significantly boosted tourism, with some historic sites reporting visitor numbers soaring by more than 200%. Among the most popular destinations is Midhope Castle in the Hopetoun estate, about four kilometres west of South Queensferry. The landmark gained global fame as Lallybroch, Jamie Fraser's ancestral home. Up until a few years ago, this was farmland with next to zero visitors. Now, 80,000 tourists are expected this summer alone. STV News 'It's quite a lot of people, to say the least,' James Gourlay from Midhope Castle said. 'We used to be a farmyard, then everything changed. STV News 'Outlander is a fantastic story. People are coming here from all over the world. It's been a joy.' The castle's popularity has provided opportunities to showcase the wider Hopetoun Estate and its real-life history. 'It gave us the opportunity to tell the proper history of who worked and stayed here. It's been good fun.' Inspired by the series, photographer Daria Bilyk runs Outlander photoshoots, complete with custom-made period costumes. 'I didn't want to just have people wearing jeans and puffer jackets – I wanted to tell the story,' she added. STV News Supplied Daria has captured people of all ages and walks of life, from newlyweds and anniversary couples to people on solo adventures. 'People are in love with the show and want to romanticise their lives, living through these characters,' she said. 'But we've also had some people who haven't even watched Outlander; they just want to wear beautiful attire and have a great time, make memories, and bring these photos as souvenirs from Scotland. 'Photographs live on, and I'm a small part of it. It makes me proud to do this. It's incredible to witness.' Supplied According to a Visit Scotland survey, 36% of European visitors and 37% of long-haul visitors are inspired to visit the country due to films, TV series and books set in Scotland. While bumping into celebrities isn't guaranteed, visitors can immerse themselves in the world of Outlander through its filming locations. Key locations including Blackness Castle, Doune Castle, Midhope Castle, Culross, Falkland and the Highland Folk Museum have become fan favourites. Culross Palace in Dunfermline is a main destination for fans and is now also home to a costume worn by an Outlander character inspired by a historical figure. Geillis Duncane was the name of a real woman who was tried as a witch in 1591 during the North Berwick witch trials in Scotland. The 'withdrawing room' in the palace is used as the fictional Geillis's parlour in season one. STV News STV News Tour guide Fiona Morrison said: 'Geillis is a real person who lived in the 1590s near Edinburgh. She was a servant girl, and unfortunately, she was accused of being a witch by her employer, David Seaton. She was strangled and burned. 'We always try to fit in real history. We make visitors aware that although the building was used in Outlander, it has its own fantastic history as well.' While the Outlander story might be reaching its final chapter, its legacy will likely be felt for some time yet. The National Trust for Scotland say screen tourism is now a vital part of its conservation work. Filming manager Anna Rathband: 'It's been huge – the show has helped highlight Scottish history and engage fans from all over the world. It's been fantastic to see. 'Income from filming goes directly back to the conservation of the site. There's also the legacy of film tours, which is a significant part of how we engage with our audience. 'It's been really rewarding.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country


Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Direct trains from UK to top European city with €4 beers set to start soon
A deal has been signed for an expansion on rail travel from the UK to a popular European destination - making it easier than ever for people to go on city breaks For those looking for a quick city break - there's a new European destination that will now be easily accessible via train. Britain and Germany have just signed a landmark deal that will "fundamentally change how millions of people travel". Named The Kensington Treaty, the agreement will hopefully be in place in the early 2030s and marks a shift in relations between the two nations. It was sealed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's on his first official visit to the UK on July 17. One of the key elements of the deal - as outlined in the UK goverments Plan for Change is the commitment to provide a long-distance direct passenger rail service between the two capitals according to The Times. It's expected travel time from London to Frankfurt is likely to take about five hours and London to Geneva is expected to take five hours and 20 minutes. Eurostar and other train operators had an eye on expanding the number of destinations served by the Channel Tunnel since the original service was launched in the 1990s. It also allows there to be easy travel to other German cities including Frankfurt. The joint UK-Germany transport taskforce will now explore the infrastructure, border and security needs to be able to create the route. As well as looking into the commercial and technical requirements such as safety standards and what is needed from rail operators to make the direct service happen. Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: 'We're pioneering a new era of European rail connectivity and are determined to put Britain at the heart of a better-connected continent. "The Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie - in just a matter of years, rail passengers in the UK could be able to visit these iconic sights direct from the comfort of a train, thanks to a direct connection linking London and Berlin." "This landmark agreement - part of a new treaty the Prime Minister will sign with Chancellor Merz today - has the potential to fundamentally change how millions of people travel between our two countries, offering a faster, more convenient and significantly greener alternative to flying.'" It comes after Eurostar has since announced plans to launch direct services to Frankfurt and Geneva in the early 2030s, as well as working on a direct route to Berlin.