Drive on Down: 4 Great Ways to Experience the Local Culture of Lafayette, LA

You won’t soon mistake Lafayette, LA for any other place in the country. Find out what makes this Southern city so special by visiting these destinations infused with local culture.

Drive on Down: 4 Great Ways to Experience the Local Culture of Lafayette, LA

1. Festivals Acadiens et Creoles

While Lafayette is festival central, with gatherings that draw spectators from around the world like Festival International de Louisiane and Festival Mardi Gras a Lafayette, perhaps the most representative of the Happiest City’s present and past takes place in October annually. Festivals Acadiens et Creoles honors the crafts, food, and music of Lafayette’s iconic Cajun and Creole culture.

The Louisiana Native and Contemporary Crafts portion of the festival is the longest-running, going strong since 1972. The Tribute to Cajun Music Concert followed shortly thereafter and was later joined by the Bayou Food Festival. The spectacle of this Cajun cultural revival continues to evolve, now including trade shows, dancing, and a duathlon that’s part paddle and part running. Various venues host the festivities.

2. Acadian Culture Center and Acadian Village

The Jean Lafitte National Historic Park & Preserve houses the history book in a building known as Acadian Culture Center. Located at 501 Fisher Road, it tells the story of the Acadians (or Cajuns) who settled Lafayette from Nova Scotia, bringing with them a mixture of French, Native American, Scottish, Irish, and Celtic influences. Center experiences range from storytelling and videos to boat tours that will connect you with Lafayette’s first bayou settlements.

For an even more immersive odyssey, book a trip to 200 Greenleaf Drive’s living history museum Acadian Village, where Acadian life in the 19th century unfolds before your very eyes. Why not experience auto history and evolution with the Chevrolet Blazer? This brand ambassador has transformed from a 1960s-era truck to a powerful and futuristic crossover SUV.

3. Downtown Alive!

Few better places exist to feel the spirit of a city than its beating heart: downtown. Lafayette is no exception. Marvel at local art at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. The modern pieces found here embody the Cajun heartland in a timeless yet progressive way. Take home a custom-made authentic souvenir at the Cajun Hatter. Or listen to old-school vinyl of lively Cajun and Zydeco music at Lagniappe Records.

4. Cajun Food Tours

You are what you eat, and Lafayette consumes its Cajun culture best with its enticing cuisine lauded far and wide. Food tours can take you from the Crawfish Capital of the World in Breaux Bridge to 740 Jefferson Street local hot-spot Pop’s Po’boys, or just down the road to 900 Jefferson Street’s Spoonbill, or to the gumbo paradise–with a side of live music–Prejean’s at 3480 NE Evangeline Hwy.

Get a taste of vehicle supremacy. Drop by Service GM Chevrolet Cadillac and choose from an auto menu designed for the discerning driver.  

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Tags: Acadian Culture Center and Acadian Village, Cajun Food Tours, Downtown Alive!, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, Lafayette, local culture
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