Work hard, play hard. That's our tradition here in French Louisiana. From Mardi Gras and Friday afternoon fais-do-dos (street dances), to festivals celebrating everything from Cajun and Zydeco music, crawfish and our French heritage, you'll find something every week in Lafayette.
Festival & Events
26th Annual Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival
Aug 30
Fifteen non-stop hours of live spicy music, culture food and craft demonstrations.
Zydeco Festival Grounds, Plaisance
Adults $10, children under 10 $2; limited pre-sale tickets available. Gate opens @ 7 a.m. Heritage Stage starts @ 9 a.m. Main Stage, 10:30 a.m.-until.
337-232-7672, www.zydeco.org
Annual Creole Zydeco Festival
Aug 31
Music, dancing, vendors, food, and drinks. Always,last Sunday of August.
Adam Carlson Park, St.Martinville
337-394-4635/337-394-6546, www.stmartinville.org
Arts & Entertainment
At Acadiana Center for the Arts:
Spaces Real & Imagined: Works by Angelo Arnold & Gaetano LaRoche - Aug 9 - Sep 27 - Two solo exhibitions will split the Main Gallery in half. One exhibit features 2-D abstract pieces represented through paintings & drawings. The other features 3-D abstract artworks represented through distortions of everyday objects.
Side Gallery Series presents Stephanie Patton - Aug 9-31 - This installation of darkly humorous work will incorporate a variety of media including video, painting & sewn sculpture, and will address issues of emotional strength, comfort, protecton and aging.
Members free, adults $5, students & seniors $3, 5-17 $2, 4 & under free. Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
337-233-7060, www.AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org
At Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum:
Long Overdue: Book Renewal - Jun 26 - Sep 30 - A collaboration between the Portland Public Library and Maine College of Art. It is an exploration of modern society's relationship to books and art.
Focus on Faculty: A 40th Anniversary Survey - Jun 26 - Dec 31 - A year-long exhibition that will showcase artworks by faculty from the department of Visual Arts at UL. Each month a new group of artworks will be exhibited.
Forty Works for Forty Years - Jun 26 - Dec 31 - Selected works from UAM's permanent collection will rotate through the year in celebration of the 40 year anniversary of the museum's founding.
Long Overdue: Book Renewal - Jun 26 - Sep 6 - A collaboration between the Portland Public Library and Maine College of Art. It is an exploration of modern society's relationship to books and art.
Free for UL students,Facultyand Staff. General Public Adults: $5, Senior Citizens: $4, Students(5-17): $3. Tues-Sat 10:00 to 5:00PM Sun & Mon- Closed.
337-482-2278, http://museum.louisiana.edu
La Musique de la Ville
Aug 28
Smoke-free dances at Vermilionville Featuring Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie.
Vermilionville, Lafayette
$6. 7-10 p.m.
337-233-4077/866-992-2968, www.vermilionville.org
Sports & Outdoors
Live Thoroughbred Horse Racing
May 1 - Sep 1
Post time approx. 6:20 p.m. (Wednesdays-Saturdays).
Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino, Opelousas
Admission required for Clubhouse entry. 6:20 p.m. - until
337-594-3000, www.evangelinedowns.com
Carriage House Suites at River Ranch
Urbane and sophisticated, Carriage House Suites at River Ranch redefine the boutique hotel experience.