With the extended Memorial Day weekend, there’s more time to take in the last of Louisiana’s fairs and festivals for spring.
Here are the details on eight of them, from celebrating the watermelon in DeRidder to a zydeco bash in Lafayette:
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
BEAUREGARD WATERMELON FESTIVAL: Beauregard Parish Fairgrounds, 504 West Drive, DeRidder. The community event is going patriotic to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, pausing to honor the brave men and women whose sacrifice made freedom possible. Goldstar Amusement will offer rides, games and other midway favorites. Also look for live entertainment and contests. beauregardwatermelonfestival.com.
Finalists prepare their last pots to be judged at the 58th annual Gonzales Jambalaya Festival in May 2025.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY
JAMBALAYA FESTIVAL: Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S. St. Landry Ave., Gonzales. Carnival rides, games, live music, jambalaya cook-off, food vendors, and arts and crafts. jambalayafestival.net.
GREEK FESTIVAL: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1200 Allen Toussaint Blvd., New Orleans. Walk/run, guided tours of the cathedral, performances by the Hellenic Dancers, live Greek music, Athenian Playground for kids, food and drink. https://www.gfno.com/.
MUDBUG MADNESS FESTIVAL: Festival Plaza, 101 Crockett St., Shreveport. Thirty bands set to play country, pop, blues and zydeco on three stages; food, art/craft vendors, children’s area, crawfish eating contests, boiled crawfish, beverages. https://www.mudbugmadness.com/.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 31
CAJUN HEARTLAND STATE FAIR: 444 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette. This kick-off to summer features rides, food, craft vendors, free attractions and family-oriented games. Admission is $5 Sunday-Thursday and before 7 p.m. Friday- Saturday, $10 after 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday. cajundome.com.
SATURDAY
LUNCHBOX COMEDY FESTIVAL IV: 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Cabin & Courtyard Events, Gonzales. Event will feature 25-plus comedians, 20-plus vendors, four full comedy shows, live band, reptile petting zoo and hot dog eating competition. All-day pass, $25; VIP pass, $40. eventbrite.com.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY
BATON ROUGE SOUL FOOD FESTIVAL: 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Main Library at Goodwood, 7711 Goodwood Blvd. Featuring blues, soul, R&B, gospel and Christian music, along with a vendors’ village, a judged soul food cooking contest, and new this year — a mustard greens and cornbread eating competition. Free. https://hitcitydigital.wixsite.com/brsoulfoodfest.
ZYDECO EXTRAVAGANZA: Noon, Blackham Coliseum, 2230 Johnston St., Lafayette. Featuring the crowd-favorite amateur accordion contest, authentic Creole food and art vendors. The music lineup includes Chris Ardoin, Keith Frank, Tucka, Step Rideau, Rusty Metoyer, Leon Chavis, Jeffery & Koray Broussard, Mike Dopsie and DJ Troy D. $30 and up; free, kids 12 and younger. https://zydecoextra.com/.
