Iberia Parish, Louisiana celebrates its rich heritage and just about everything else at its many area festivals and events, from Mardi Gras to Louisiana shrimp, sugar and music.
Among them are the Delcambre Shrimp Festival (August), Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival (September) and World Championship Gumbo Cookoff (October).
The town of Delcambre, Louisiana, located about 20 miles southwest of Lafayette, is home to one of the area's most productive shrimp fleets and on August 14 to 18 the town will devote an entire weekend to honor this economic lifeblood with the Delcambre Shrimp Festival. Events include a shrimp cook-off, queens’ pageants, fais-do-do's, food booths, carnival rides, and the blessing of the shrimp boat fleet. There's plenty of fun for "kids" of all ages and lots to see, hear, and eat.
For 73 years the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival has brought together 23 sugar-producing parishes to honor the cane growers, mill operators and others in the sugar industry with ceremonies, parties, parades, royalty, exhibits, and dancing in the streets. Set in historic New Iberia, the event (September 24-28 in 2014) has small town charm and features top-notch entertainment.
Each year, on the second weekend of October, the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce hosts the World Championship Gumbo Cook-Off, a premier event in Iberia Parish. The three-day event (October 10-12 this year) takes place on New Iberia's historic and award-winning Main Street.
While the gumbo competition itself is on Sunday, Friday evening kicks off the event weekend with great music and popular food items. On Saturday, there are bands all day, down town shopping deals, museum tours and forty-plus food booths cooking anything but gumbo for lunch. Sunday's full attention goes to the gumbo as 90 or more teams vy for bragging rights to the best gumbo in the world.
Just 20 miles south of Lafayette, 2 hours west of New Orleans and 4 hours east of Houston, New Iberia is a must for visiting. Click here for directions. For information on many other events in this Cajun location visit www.iberiatravel.com
For more information about top events in Louisiana take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the major annual festivals and events in Louisiana-Baton Rouge, Louisiana-New Orleans and the Louisiana West region.