Lafayette, LA Events

Lost but determined, Little Amal is guided by melodic whispers and dancing lights that lead her to a celebration of unity amidst diversity.

In partnership with Festival International de Louisiane, Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, Lafayette Economic Development Authority, Lafayette Parish Bicentennial, Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Acadiana Symphony, Orchestra & Conservatory of Music, La Maison Creole de Freetown Museum and Attakapas Collective with performances by Acadiana Symphony Youth Orchestra, Acadiana Talent, Youth Actors Troupe, Brandon Broussard, Coco Tribe of Canneci Tinne, Corey Ledet, Fire Expressions Performing Arts Conservatory, Riley Family Band, Soul Express Brass Band and The Magnolia Sisters.

This is a past event. Explore more HERE.

Fostering Art and Culture in Acadiana. Founded in 1975, Acadiana Center for the Arts (“AcA”) is a community-supported nonprofit organization that fosters art and culture in Acadiana. Since its founding, AcA has developed as a major force, shaping the future of public education and community development in South Louisiana. AcA supports the creation of new works of art, exhibits, festivals, performances, and public art across an eight-parish region that includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parishes. www.acadianacenterforthearts.org

The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory of Music (ASO) was founded in 1984 and incorporated in 1987. The Orchestra annually performs 7 primary concerts, 4 chamber music concerts and 4 community outreach concerts, in addition to youth-focused music education programming. ASO’s vast array of youth-focused music education programs – After School Strings, Music Lessons (Conservatory), Preparatory Orchestra (ASPO), Youth Orchestra (ASYO), Side-by-Side Performances and an Educational Concert Series. OUR MISSION: To inspire culture through music. OUR VISION: To bolster our cultural economy and uphold unparalleled civic value through the power and joy of music by providing excellence in orchestral performances of diverse repertoire, and educational experiences to inspire and enrich our future generations, thus creating a vibrant community in which to live and work. acadianasymphony.org

A relatively new organization in downtown Lafayette is the Attakapas Collective. “This is a place where artisans celebrate our heritage, our culture, and a space where they are allowed to show what they have been passionate about but didn’t have a place that honored their dreams,” says owner Erica Fox. “Here they feel safe, they can create, and in doing so, as a collective, we bring about community.” www.facebook.com/attakapascollective

Downtown Lafayette, Louisiana is a place where hundreds of businesses and organizations—small and large—contribute to creating a vibrant community. Culture and arts, dining and nightlife, business and development all work together to form an unforgettable place to visit, live, work, and play. Downtown Lafayette is home to many restaurants, bars, banks, museums, theaters, civic buildings, and organizations like the Downtown Development Authority and Downtown Lafayette Unlimited. These two organizations work together to keep Downtown Lafayette thriving, safe, and beautiful. www.downtownlafayette.org

Festival International de Louisiane is a premiere International music and arts festival known for bringing a variety of unique and emerging performers to Louisiana. The 501 (C) (3) organization is committed to maintaining the festival as non-ticketed and free to the general public. The family-oriented event is held each year in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Our loyal audience, comprised of local, national and international patrons, return year after year. Our mission: * Enrich the community with a celebration of its native cultures through performing arts. * Educate the public of the historical achievements and artistic expressions of related global cultures while developing an appreciation for the arts. * Develop culture and tourism, as well as enhance economic development by expanding Louisiana’s reputation as an arts center and a destination for artistic events. www.festivalinternational.org

Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission. Lafayette is at the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun & Creole Country, an area known as the Happiest City in America. Their history dates back to the 18th century, when Canada’s Acadians were expelled and settled in Louisiana. More than two centuries later tourists visit for a rare taste of the genuine Acadian experience. Lafayette has a distinct culinary identity as the epicenter of Cajun cuisine that’s earned them the title Best Food City in the USA. Lafayette’s culinary scene is steeped in tradition and continues to evolve with a new generation of chefs making it an incredible place to eat. No matter what time of year you visit Lafayette they will have something for you to celebrate. It doesn’t take long to get hooked on Lafayette’s Cajun and Zydeco music and there’s never a shortage of dance partners if you want to try your hand at a two-step or waltz. Whether your passion is for their rich cultural history, the bustling culinary scene or distinctive blend of Cajun and Zydeco music, you can be sure you will leave with a smile on your face. www.lafayettetravel.com 

Maison Creole de Freetown is an African American history museum and cultural center located in Lafayette, LA. It is located on the cultural lands of the Atakapas-Ishak nation and the home to both free people of color and those enslaved on the neighboring sugarcane plantation, Ile Copal. Its  mission is to document and preserve the history of Freetown neighborhood and to educate others on the historical, linguistic and cultural contributions of people of color and its indigenous inhabitants of Lafayette area. It’s goal is to honor the past while cultivating a brighter tomorrow for all people.  www.maisonfreetown.org

LEDA’s mission is to catalyze job growth and capital investments that will lead to a strong and diversified economy, equitable access to economic opportunity, and an excellent quality of life in Lafayette Parish. Leveraging our favourable business climate, joie de vivre, and culture of ingenuity and creativity, Lafayette will be the location of choice for top talent, existing and new businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators. www.lafayette.org

Lafayette Parish is at the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun & Creole Country. The area’s cultural origins date back to the 18th century, when Canada’s Acadians were expelled and settled in Louisiana among the Atakapa-Ishak and other Indigenous Peoples. Over the years, the blending of Native, French, Creole, African, Spanish, Lebanese, Jewish and other European and Asian cultures has made this area the special place it is. The goal of the Lafayette Parish Bicentennial is to reveal the breadth and depth of these influences, and to celebrate them. www.lafayette1823.org