Other Top Festivals

The French Quarter Festival

The 3-day French Quarter Festival in early April is a celebration of the ingredients of French Quarter life. Although the diversity of music is nowhere near as great as that found at Jazz Fest, this is rapidly growing as an alternative to what many feel has become too sprawling, massive, and expensive. There are scores of free outdoor concerts, art shows, and children's activities. Most of the music is of the traditional jazz, brass band, Cajun/zydeco, or funk variety. Stages are set throughout the Quarter (making it easy to return to your hotel room for a rest), along Bourbon, Royal, and even down by the river, where the breeze adds to the experience. Jackson Square and Woldenberg Riverfront Park are transformed into the world's largest jazz brunch, with about 60 leading restaurants serving Cajun and Creole specialties.

For details, write to French Quarter Festivals, 400 N. Peters St., Suite 205, New Orleans, LA 70130 (tel. 800/673-5725 or 504/522-5730; www.fqfi.org).

Festivals Acadiens

This is a Cajun Country celebration -- or rather, several celebrations -- held during the third week of September in Lafayette. The festivals, lumped together under the heading Festivals Acadiens, pay tribute to the culture and heritage of Cajun families who have been here since the British expelled them from their Nova Scotia homes nearly 250 years ago.

At the Bayou Food Festival, you'll be able to taste the cuisine of more than 30 top Cajun restaurants. Specialties such as stuffed crabs, crawfish étouffée, oysters Bienville, shrimp de la Teche, catfish en brochette, jambalaya, chicken-and-sausage gumbo, smothered quail, and hot boudin (sausage) are everyday eating for Cajuns, and this is a rare opportunity to try them all. The Bayou Food Festival is held in Girard Park, adjacent to the music festival. Admission is free.

The Festival de Musique Acadienne began in 1974 when some Cajun musicians were engaged to play briefly for visiting French newspaper editors. It was a rainy night, but some 12,000 Cajun residents showed up to listen. It has become an annual affair with more than 50,000 visitors usually on hand. Because of the crowds, the festival is now held outdoors in Girard Park where fans can listen in grassy comfort. Performed almost entirely in French, the music covers both traditional and modern Cajun styles, including zydeco. The music starts early and ends late, and there's no charge to come to the park and listen.

You'll see native Louisiana artisans demonstrating their skills at the Louisiana Native Crafts Festival. All crafts presented must have been practiced before or during the early 1900s, and all materials used must be native to Louisiana. Meeting these criteria are such arts as woodcarving, soap making, and palmetto weaving.

For details on all, contact the Lafayette Parish Convention and Visitors Commission, P.O. Box 52066, Lafayette, LA 70505 (tel. 800/346-1958 in the U.S., 800/543-5340 in Canada, or 337/232-3737; www.lafayettetravel.com).