Louisiana hosts annual rice and French food festivals

Two major cultural festivals are scheduled to take place in Louisiana this October.

The 89th annual International Rice Festival will be held in downtown Crowley from October 15 through October 18. As Louisiana’s oldest agricultural festival, the event features a variety of activities including a 5K, car show, fiddle and accordion contests, and rice-themed eating and cooking competitions. The musical lineup includes country singer Easton Corbin, alongside Cajun artists such as Wayne Toups and Keith Frank. The festival also hosts a Children’s Parade and a Grand Parade.

In Larose, the 51st annual French Food Festival will run from October 23 to October 25 at the Larose Regional Park and Civic Center. Organized by the Bayou Civic Club, the three-day event celebrates Cajun and French heritage through food, live music, and cultural exhibits. Scheduled activities include a live auction, the Folk Like Exhibit, and the annual Grand Marshal March. Musical performers for the weekend include the Chase Tyler Band and Waylon Thibodeaux.