13 Louisiana Fall Festivals You’ll Visit Just For The Food And Music
In Louisiana, folks know how to throw a party, and fall brings the best lineup of the year. When cooler air finally arrives, towns across the state fire up their grills, tune their fiddles, and invite everyone to celebrate what makes this place special.
These festivals are not just about eating well or hearing great bands – they’re about experiencing the culture that makes Louisiana unlike anywhere else.
Pack your appetite and your dancing shoes, because these thirteen events will show you exactly why autumn here tastes and sounds so good.
1. Festivals Acadiens et Créoles
Lafayette’s biggest cultural celebration happens every October under the sprawling oaks of Girard Park, and admission costs you nothing.
Three full days of Cajun and zydeco bands rotate across multiple stages while the Bayou Food Festival sets up shop just steps away. The 2025 dates fall on October 10 through 12, making it a perfect mid-autumn weekend.
I’ve spent entire afternoons here, bouncing between stages with a plate of crawfish étouffée in hand.
Families spread blankets on the grass, kids chase each other around the vendor tents, and the whole park hums with accordion riffs.
It’s pure Lafayette energy, and it’s completely free.
2. Blackpot Festival & Cookoff
Vermilionville hosts a weekend dedicated to cast-iron cookery, two-stepping, and the kind of jamming that happens when the sun goes down over the campground.
The 2025 edition ran October 24 and 25, bringing together teams competing in a serious cookoff alongside bands that keep the dance floor busy. Stews bubble in blackpots all day long, filling the air with the smell of roux and spices.
If you catch the sound of fiddles drifting through the trees at dusk, follow them. That’s where the real magic happens, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by people who know every word to songs you’ve never heard.
3. Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
Lafayette Square in downtown New Orleans transforms into a blues lover’s paradise every October, and the whole event is free.
Pit smoke drifts between stages where national and local acts keep the music rolling all weekend. The 2025 festival is slated for October 10 through 12, giving you three days to sample ribs, brisket, and pulled pork while soaking up some of the best blues around.
Bring cash for the food vendors because card readers can be spotty. The lawn fills up fast, so stake your spot early if you want a good view. Brass bands sometimes sneak into the lineup, adding that New Orleans twist to the blues.
4. Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival
Louis Armstrong Park becomes gumbo central every November, with dozens of pots simmering in the shadow of Congo Square.
The 2025 festival took place on November 8 and 9, offering two full days of Creole cooking, brass bands, and second-line spirit.
This is Tremé’s chance to showcase its culinary legacy, and every vendor brings their own spin on the city’s signature dish.
Last year, I tried seven different gumbos before noon and still went back for more. The music here feels different – it’s rooted in the neighborhood’s deep history.
You’ll hear traditional jazz, brass funk, and gospel, all while the aroma of seafood and sausage gumbo wraps around you.
5. Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
One street, dozens of vendors, and more ways to dress a po-boy than you ever imagined possible. Oak Street in Carrollton shuts down every November for a Sunday celebration that’s all about Louisiana’s most beloved sandwich.
The 2025 festival returns on November 16, with multiple stages keeping the beat going between bites.
You’ll find classic roast beef and fried shrimp, but also unexpected combinations like duck confit and Korean barbecue.
The creativity here is wild, and the crowd is always up for trying something new. Lines move fast, so don’t be intimidated.
Just pick a vendor that looks interesting and go for it.
6. Andouille Festival
LaPlace takes its smoked-sausage heritage seriously, and the Andouille Festival proves it every October. The 2025 edition marked the 50th anniversary, running October 17 through 19 with an extra dose of pride.
Vendors serve up andouille in every form – grilled, fried, stuffed into po-boys, or tossed into jambalaya.
Live music fills the air all weekend, with a big Sunday gospel set that brings the whole festival together. Carnival rides keep the kids entertained while adults sample their way through St. John the Baptist Parish’s signature product.
It’s a family-friendly celebration that honors a tradition five decades strong, and the energy feels special this year.
7. Bridge City Gumbo Festival
The second weekend of October means one thing in Westwego: gumbo. Chicken-and-andouille, seafood, and every variation in between fill the fairgrounds, along with carnival rides and live bands.
The 2025 festival ran from October 10 through 12, drawing crowds ready to debate which pot deserves the crown.
I’ve watched families return to the same vendor year after year, swearing by their recipe. The competition is friendly but fierce, and tasting your way through the options is half the fun.
Kids ride the Ferris wheel while parents compare notes on roux color and spice levels. It’s a true community gathering that tastes like home.
8. Rougarou Fest
Houma’s festival grounds near the Houma–Terrebonne Civic Center at 86 Valhi Blvd transform into a bayou-folklore party every October, celebrating the legendary rougarou with costumes, Cajun food booths, and a packed music schedule.
The 2025 festival wrapped a busy October 17 through 19 weekend, with locals and visitors embracing the legend. Costumes range from scary to silly, and the whole event feels like Halloween with a Louisiana twist.
Food vendors serve boudin, crawfish pies, and fried alligator while bands keep the energy high. The legend of the rougarou – a werewolf-like creature that roams the swamps – adds a storytelling element that makes this festival unique.
Kids love the spooky vibe, and adults appreciate the authentic Cajun flavors and live music.
9. Deutsches Haus Oktoberfest
Fridays and Saturdays in October bring a taste of Bavaria to Bayou St. John, where Deutsches Haus throws its annual Oktoberfest.
The 2025 dates spanned October 10 through 11, 17 through 18, and 24 through 25, offering three weekends of oompah bands, pretzels, schnitzel, and steins. It’s a surprising cultural twist in a city known for Creole and Cajun traditions.
The hall fills with the sound of accordions – but not the Cajun kind – and long tables encourage communal seating. Pretzels arrive warm and soft, and the schnitzel is crispy and satisfying.
It’s a fun change of pace that still feels authentically festive and welcoming.
10. International Rice Festival
Crowley’s downtown fills with music stages, cooking tents, and parades every October for Louisiana’s oldest agricultural festival.
Set for October 16 through 19 in 2025, the International Rice Festival honors the crop that built the region. Rice dishes take center stage, prepared in every style imaginable, while bands keep the celebration lively.
I’ve watched the parade roll through downtown, complete with floats celebrating rice farming and local culture. The cooking demonstrations are worth catching – chefs show off techniques passed down through generations.
It’s a festival that blends agriculture, history, and entertainment in a way that feels uniquely Louisiana. The pride here is real, and the food is outstanding.
11. Zwolle Tamale Fiesta
Zwolle’s iconic red-hot tamales take center stage every October during a fiesta that draws crowds to this small town.
The 49th edition ran October 9 through 11 in 2025, featuring live music, cooking contests, and more tamales than you can count.
These aren’t your typical tamales – they’re spicy, savory, and wrapped in a tradition that dates back generations.
The whole town gets involved, and the atmosphere feels like a big family reunion. Vendors compete for bragging rights while bands play country, rock, and Cajun tunes.
Lines form early for the best tamales, but the wait is always worth it. It’s proof that small towns throw some of the best parties.
12. Louisiana Pecan Festival
Colfax celebrates the pecan every November with pralines, pies, and roasted nuts taking over the town square.
The festival always falls on the first full weekend of November – November 7 through 9 in 2025 – and features country acts and pageants alongside the food.
Pecans are harvested fresh in the fall, and this festival showcases them in every delicious form.
Pralines are the star here, with vendors offering traditional recipes and creative twists. Roasted pecans make perfect snacks, and the pies are rich and satisfying.
Country music fills the air while families stroll the square, sampling sweets and soaking up the small-town charm. It’s a cozy, flavorful celebration of Louisiana’s pecan harvest.
13. Gretna Heritage Festival
Three riverfront days, five stages, and nearly 100 food vendors make the Gretna Heritage Festival one of the biggest fall events in the New Orleans area.
The 2025 festival ran October 3 through 5, with headliners ranging from Trombone Shorty to Sam Hunt. The variety here is impressive – you’ll find everything from Creole classics to international cuisine, all served up with a side of great music.
The stages run nonstop, covering jazz, rock, country, and brass. I’ve spent entire afternoons wandering between food booths, trying a little bit of everything.
The riverfront location adds a scenic backdrop, and the festival draws a huge, diverse crowd that reflects the region’s cultural mix.