Lafayette: Festivals Acadiens et Créoles

 Disclosure: My Lafayette trip was provided by Lafayette Travel to allow me all these amazing experiences. There was no requirement to write about the trip, but I had such an amazing time and want to share it with you!

Earlier this month I had an amazing opportunity where I joined three other writers from across the US in Lafayette, Louisiana for a few days of food and fun.  Let me be completely honest with you, I had no idea what to expect and was pretty nervous.  I had visions of spicy food, gators and swamps that were well out of my comfort zone but I knew that I would kick myself if I didn’t go.  What I experienced was nothing short of amazing with the people, food, the atmosphere.  It’s a place I’d go again over and over.

I really wish that I could share every single detail about my trip with you but I would be writing for weeks and weeks so I’m going to break up my trip into a couple posts for you.  I have to encourage you to plan a trip to Lafayette if you want to get the REAL experience for yourself.  I hope that my posts give you just a brief look into the life of Lafayette.

Today I wanted to share a little bit about the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles.  You can find lots of great information about the event on their website but I wanted to highlight some of my favorite parts.

To start out the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles we had an up close view of the Boudin Cutting.  Most businesses open with some type of ribbon cutting but at Festivals Acadiens et Créoles they celebrate the official start of the festival with a boudin cutting.  The best part is that everybody gets to partake in the “ribbon”.

I had the pleasure of meeting the Lafayette mayor, Joey Durel,  who was the actual person cutting the Boudin Ribbon.  What a great job he had!  Everyone was so excited to be part of the cutting and the enjoying of the boudin.

 Oh, the Boudin!  Let’s just say, it’s AMAZING and I only wish that I could make this myself here in Minnesota!  I have a couple ideas on how to make Boudin patties but I’m guessing they will be nothing like the real thing.

After they fill you up with yummy food and drinks, the music starts.  Oh, the music!  I had never experienced this type of uplifting music that really makes you want to get up and move.  You just can’t help yourself but smile when you hear it and then see couples out in the dirt dancing and having a great time.

 We were able to hear the daughter of Cajun music legend Dewey Balfa perform at the the opening ceremonies of the  Festivals Acadiens et Créoles.

We were lucky enough to be a part of the 40th Anniversary of the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles in Lafayette where we enjoyed everything from Cajun and Zydeco music and dancing to amazing cooking demos and food.

Lafayette, Louisiana is where you can really feel the Cajun Country.  If you’ve been thinking about visiting Louisiana, maybe it’s to New Orleans or someplace else.  I would highly recommend adding some time in Lafayette and during one of their many festivals would be the prime time.  You will not believe the different foods, fun and all the amazing people that this town has to offer.

I cannot wait to share all the amazing foods that I was able to enjoy on my trip which will be coming up next week in my part 2 post.  Be sure to watch for it!