Hotels by City

APRIL 3-5

• KITE FEST LOUISIANE 2009: West Baton Rouge Soccer Complex, La. 415 at Rosedale Road in Port Allen. Hours are Friday (student day), 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Plenty of kite flying, kite-making workshop, kite design competitions, sport kite team ballets, food, music, inflatables and face-painting for kids. Free.includes plenty of kite flying by amateurs and professionals, kite flying lessons, kite design competitions, sport kite team ballets, food, music and inflatables for kids. Free Admission. (No ice chests or pets please) (800) 654-9701 or http://www.westbatonrouge.net.
• PATTERSON CYPRESS SAWMILL FESTIVAL: Kemper Williams Park, Patterson. The family festival offers professional lumberjack shows, chainsaw carving, numerous contests, cypress sawmill display, a golf tournament, classic car and truck display, arts and crafts, a variety of music, food, street fair, games, petting zoo, fireworks on Saturday night, poker run and a passé patout (two-person saw contest) with visiting queens. Bands include Country Showdown, Johnny Firmin and Company, TK Hulin and Smoke, Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys and Bobby and the Rockers. (985) 395-4905 or http://www.cypresssawmill.com
• PONCHATOULA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Ponchatoula. Parade, strawberry-eating contest, baking contest, hollering contest, sack race and more. Live entertainment includes No Limit, Brandon Bennett, Big Al and the Heavyweights, Todd O’Neill,  Molly Ringwalds, Bag of Donuts, the Issue, Hip Boot Joe and Mojeaux. Hours are 4-9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m.-6 p.m.  Sunday. (800) 917-7045 or http://www.lastrawberryfestival.com

APRIL 4

• IRIS VIEWING FESTIVAL: Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans. Live music, demonstrations, self-guided audio tour of the sculpture garden. (504) 658-4106.
• DELTA MUSIC FESTIVAL: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Delta Music Museum, 218 Louisiana Ave., Ferriday. Louisiana secretary of State Jay Dardenne will induct Johnny Rivers into the museum’s Hall of Fame.  Performing will be Jared Perck, Wayside, Paul Southerland and Hannah Belle, Rendezvous, Avery Michael and Exit 209,  and Elvis impersonator Todd Martin.  Expect food, crafts, children’s games. (318) 757-9999.
• FRANKLIN PARISH CATFISH FESTIVAL: starting at 8 a.m., downtown Winnsboro. Entertainers will include The Bluz Boys, 33M, Hunter Hayes,  and the North Louisiana Fiddling Championship. Enjoy food and arts and crafts. (318) 435-7607 or http://www.franklinparishcatfishfestival.com
• AUDUBON COUNTRY BIRDFEST: St. Francisville. The Feliciana Nature Society puts on this annual event highlighting the bird life, natural habitat and history of the Feliciana parishes. Look for birding field trips, canoe trip, birding walks, and birding tours at Audubon State Historic Site at Oakley Plantation. (800) 488-6502 or http://www.audubonbirdfest.com.
• LOUISIANA OYSTER JUBILEE: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.. 311 Bourbon St., New Orleans. Enjoy oysters like never before as local chefs, restaurants and oyster aficionados in the French Quarter celebrate New Orleans’ unique culinary culture with live music, longest oyster po-boy contest, and other fun events. http://oysterjubilee.com

APRIL 4-5

• LOUISIANA DOLL FESTIVAL: Lois Loftin Doll Museum, downtown DeRidder. Two days of doll exhibits, crafts, doll sales, food booths, collections, beauty pageant, poster contest and more. (337) 463-8014.

APRIL 5

• INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE CELEBRATION: Baton Rouge River Center, River Road, Baton Rouge. Parade of nations, craft demonstrations, music, food, dance, storytelling, native dress, stage performances, geography competition, educational booths, “passport” activity, international foods at the Taste of Nations Food Court. Presented by Baton Rouge Center for World Affairs, Inc. (225) 930-0901.

APRIL 9-11

• LOUISIANA RAILROAD DAYS FESTIVAL: DeQuincy. The Bellamy Brothers headline the Saturday entertainment. Look for food booths, carnival rides, talent show, pooch pageant, 5K run, model train show, domino and chess tournaments, street dance, bike parade, children’s activities, scavenger hunt and old timers reunion. (337) 786-2823.

APRIL 17-18

• BAYOU TECHE BEAR FESTIVAL: downtown Franklin. The festival salutes the Louisiana Black Bear with the Bear-y-Patch Educational Area, Teddy Bear repair clinic,  Running of the Bears 5K/walk, petting zoo, food, arts and crafts and fireworks. New will be a birding component. Birding trips will be led by biologists from the LSU chapter of the Wildlife Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and experienced amateur birders.  Contact Paul Davidson, (225) 763-5425, or the Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau at (800) 256-2931.

APRIL 17-19

• CAJUN HOT SAUCE FESTIVAL: all day, SugArena at Acadiana Fairgrounds, 713 NW Bypass (La. 3212), New Iberia. Hot sauce competition, jambalaya cook-off, carnival, arts and crafts, live music throughout the weekend. Admission charged. http://www.sugarena.com, http://www.iberiatravel.com or (337) 365-7539.
• FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL:    New Orleans French Quarter. Showcase for local musicians with 18 outdoor stages throughout the Quarter with jazz, contemporary, Latin, Cajun, gospel and many other types of music. Sample classic New Orleans cuisine at food and drink booths, attend an art show or courtyards tour. Plan to attend Jackson Square, Old US Mint, and Woldenberg Riverfront Park’s  “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch” with more than 60 booths dishing up food and drink from  city restaurants. Take in the world’s largest praline contest and children’s activities area. Call (504) 522-5730 or visit http://www.fqfi.com
• GREAT LOUISIANA BIRDFEST: Northlake Nature Center, Mandeville. The festival coincides with the migration of many species north through Louisiana from Mexico and South America. The event includes workshops and trips to Manchac Swamp, Big Branch,  east Pearl River Estate and Pine Island Rookery. There’s also a trip to Beechwood Gardens for a BirdFest social. Fee for field trips is $5. http://www.northlakenature.org
• GRAND ISLE MIGRATORY BIRD CELEBRATION: Grand Isle High School, Grand Isle. Bird-watching tours, boat tours, island history tours, bird-related arts and crafts, Butterfly Dome tours. Visit http://www.grandisle.btnep.org or call the Grand Isle Tourist Commission at (985) 787-2997.

APRIL 18

• ART UNDER THE OAKS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Edward Douglass White Historic Site, La. 1, six miles north of Thibodaux. Arts and crafts, live music, Cajun food, sweets booth, tours of 1825 Acadian plantation house, boat rides on Bayou Lafourche. Free. (985) 876-7831.  

APRIL 18-19

• ANGOLA PRISON SPRING RODEO: Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola. Bareback riding, wild cow milking, barrel racing, bull riding, buddy pickup, prison arts and crafts, bands, food and more. Gates open at 9 a.m., and the rodeo starts at 2 p.m. Crafts booths stay open until 5 p.m. Admission $10. (225) 655-2133 or http://www.angolarodeo.com

APRIL 18-26

• BATON ROUGE BLUES WEEK: Venues include Boudreaux & Thibodeaux, Repentance Park (during Earth Day), Lafayette Park (during Sunday in the Park), Teddy’s Juke Joint, Manship Theatre, Lyceum Dean, Pastime. The week culminates with the Baton Rouge Blues Festival noon-9:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in Repentance Park near the River Center and the Old State Capitol, where visitors will enjoy music, a food court and beer garden. Performers on Saturday include Bobby “Blue” Bland, Percy Sledge & the Aces, Charlie Musselwhite, Bonnie Bramlett & the Grove Band,  Lil Ray Neal and Kenny Acosta. http://www.louisianasmusic.com

APRIL 19

• LOUISIANA EARTH DAY: downtown Baton Rouge. The event will include a sustainable pavilion, hands-on environmental education activities, including the wetlands tent, recycling fair, Earth market, natural health and healing, Louisiana and Native American culture, Earth-friendly habitat, agricultural exhibits and petting zoo. Music will include Cowboy Mouth, Tab Benoit and Geno Delafose. Go to http://www.earthdaybr.org.
• ALLONS MANGER (LET’S EAT) FOOD FESTIVAL: St. Jules Catholic Church, La. 1, Belle Rose, five miles south of Donaldsonville. Fair opens at 10:30 a.m. and food goes on sale at 11 a.m. The fest offers Cajun delicacies in the forms of crawfish, oysters, turtle, fish and shrimp, etouffee, sauce piquante, hamburgers and homemade sweets. Look for arts and crafts, games for children and live entertainment with regional bands. Auction begins at 1 p.m. (225) 473-8569.

APRIL 20-26

• AGMAGIC: John M. Parker Coliseum, Highland Road near the south gates of LSU. Children can find out the origins of the food they eat and the clothes they wear as they learn about the “magic” of agriculture. They’ll see lots of demonstrations and education stations when the event is only open to school groups and organizations 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday the week before the festival. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the event opens to the general public, who can also experience the Louisiana Body Walk, a 35-foot by 45-foot walk-through exhibit representing the human body. Free. (225) 578-2196. 

APRIL 22-25

• RED STICK INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL: downtown Baton Rouge, including Manship Theatre, Shaw Center for the Arts, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Old State Capitol. Workshops, film screenings, lectures, princess ball for girls and their fathers, cartoon-a-palooza and special Disney events. Go to  http://www.redstickfestival.org or (225) 578-3469.

APRIL 22-26

• FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE LOUISIANE: Celebrating its 23rd year, the event offers music, art, cuisine and much more. This year’s musical line-up includes performances by Marc Broussard with surprise special guests, Rootz Underground, Rachid Taha, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Tarace Boulba, and Zachary Richard. There will be more than 100 performances over five days. Free. http://www.festivalinternational.com

APRIL 23-25

• LIVE OAK CAJUN ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL: South Live Oak Elementary School, 8400 Cecilia Drive, Watson. In addition to arts and crafts, there will be carnival rides, local artists, children’s games, live auction, spacewalk, and other entertainment. (225) 667-9330.
• APRIL 24-26
• BATTLE OF JACKSON CROSSROADS: La. 68, Jackson. Be onboard the Old Hickory Railroad for the Great Spy Chase and Gold Robbery. It’s in conjunction with the 18th annual Civil War battle re-enactments taking place Saturday and Sunday. Friday is dedicated as “Education Day” and there will be demonstrations of how people of the time period survived in this time of Civil War turmoil. Visitors will see demonstrations of cooking, washing, knitting, and everyday life. Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the main battle at 2:30 p.m. The gates open at 11 a.m. on Sunday, and the battle is at 1:30 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults/$6 seniors/$3 children/ free for children 4 and younger. (225) 634-7155 or http://www.battleofjacksoncrossroads.org
• INDEPENDENCE ITALIAN FESTIVAL: Pompeii Baseball Field, Tickfaw. Rides, Italian food and drink, karaoke, and musical entertainment including Van Broussard on Friday night, Bag of Donuts on Saturday afternoon, Todd O’Neal on Saturday night, and The Dominos on Sunday afternoon. Hours: 6 p.m.-midnight Friday, 8 a.m.-midnight Saturday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. (985) 878-3960.
• LAROSE FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL: Larose Civic Center, 307 E. 5th St., Larose. Music, food rides, three-on-three basketball tournament, flag football, tennis tournament and pirogue race. Sport competitions have entry fees. Free parking. Hours: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. (985) 693-7355 or http://www.bayoucivicclub.org
• FESTIVAL DE LA PRAIRIE: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 15208 La. 73, Prairieville. The annual fundraiser features live bands, carnival rides, games, an auction and all kinds of food. Free admission. (225) 673-8307.
• ETOUFFEE FESTIVAL: Little Flower School grounds, Main Street, Arnaudville. Look for a pageant, silent auction, mayor’s cook-off, dancing, live musical entertainment, bingo, silent auction, carnival, parade, car, truck and motorcycle show, and lots of food booths. Hours are 5 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. (337) 754-5912.
• SPRINGFEST CARNIVAL & CRAFT FAIR: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge. Carnival rides, games, entertainment, food, arts and crafts fair. (225) 926-5343.

APRIL 24-26, April 30-MAY 3

• NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL: Fairgrounds Racetrack and various other locations in New Orleans. A host of performers will be on hand, including Irma Thomas, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, The O’Jays, James Taylor, Earth, Wind & Fire, Tony Bennett, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, Neil Young, Los Lobos, Erykah Badu, Joe Cocker, Sugarland and many others. Enjoy crafts, villages and marketplaces in addition to a food extravaganza. For admission costs and more details, go to http://www.nojazzfest.com

APRIL 25

• BATON ROUGE BLUES FESTIVAL: Repentance Park (located in the fountain area between the River Center and Old State Capitol.)  Featuring Kenny Acosta, Lil Ray Neal, Bonnie Bramlett & Mr. Groove, Charlie Musselwhite, Percy Sledge & the Aces, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Troy Turner and others. Go to http://www.batonrougebluesfestival.org for more information.
• ANNUAL DENHAM SPRINGS SPRINGFEST AND JAZZ FEST: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., downtown Denham Springs Antique Village. The event combines the Springfest, a longtime town celebration, with the newer Jazz Fest. There will be arts and crafts, food and assorted vendors, a rock climbing wall and other games for children, a classic car show in the Bank One parking lot, a variety of music on the Train Station stage, and art activities for kids from the Arts Council of Livingston Parish. (225) 505-5657.

APRIL 28-MAY 10

• CONTRABAND DAYS FESTIVAL: Lake Charles. This event includes a classic car show, golf tournament, sailboat regatta, barbecue cook-off, fireworks display and plenty of music. http://www.contrabanddays.com

NOW THROUGH APRIL 12
NATCHEZ SPRING PILGRIMAGE: Natchez, Miss. Visitors can choose from 25 antebellum mansions for morning or afternoon tours. Many of the mansions are private residences only open to the public during the five weeks of the pilgrimage. Tickets are available for three-house tours, $24, adults, and $18, children 6-13; and three-house tours plus Longwood, called “the grandest octagonal house in America,” $34, adults; and $26, children. Evening entertainment includes the Historic Natchez Pageant and other musical and theatrical productions. (800) 647-6742.

APRIL 4-6
CAJUN HOT SAUCE FESTIVAL: all day, SugArena at Acadiana Fairgrounds, 713 NW Bypass (La. 3212), New Iberia. Hot sauce competition, jambalaya cook-off, carnival, arts and crafts, live music throughout the weekend including  T.K. Hulin, G. G. Shinn & Smoke, Travis Matte & The Kingpins, Chris Ardoin & Nu Step and Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie. Admission charged. http://www.sugarena.com, http://www.iberiatravel.com or (337) 365-7539.

AUDUBON COUNTRY BIRDFEST: St. Francisville. The Feliciana Nature Society puts on this annual event highlighting the bird life, natural habitat and history of the Feliciana Parishes. Look for birding field trips, birding walks, house and  birding tours at Audubon State Historic Site at Oakley Plantation, vendors, exhibits and opening reception/social on Friday night with speaker. Fees for most events. (800) 488-6502 or http://www.audubonbirdfest.com.

SOUTHERN BREEZE WINE & CULINARY FESTIVAL: Old State Capitol, 100 North Blvd. Grand wine tasting, walkabout brunch, chef’s challenge and more. Tickets, call (225) 344-5866.

PATTERSON CYPRESS SAWMILL FESTIVAL: Patterson at Kemper Williams Park. The family festival offers a golf tournament, arts and crafts, country music talent contest, street fair, food and beverages, games, a gumbo cook-off, softball tournament, petting zoo, fireworks on Saturday night, old engine, classic car and truck display; poker run and a passé patout (two-person saw contest) with visiting queens. Bands include: Flashback, Southern Skkyy, The Original Tramps, Satisfaction, Big Cat Daddy featuring Todd O’Neill, Waylon Thibodeaux, The Molly Ringwalds and Foret Tradition. (985) 395-4905. 

APRIL 5
DELTA MUSIC FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Delta Music Museum, Ferriday. Pete Fountain will join the museum’s Hall of Fame this year. Headlining the entertainment will be Jason D. Williams, whose singing is reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. Other entertainers will include The Jordans, the Northwest Mississippi Community College Choir, Lujuana Weir and Easy Eddie and the Party Rockers. Admission is $3. (318) 757-9999.

APRIL 5-6
ART, ANTIQUES & AUTHORS: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.  Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, ASHA Museum, 318 Mississippi St.  and adjacent Crescent Park, Donaldsonville. Book signing, artists, food, music and more. (225) 473-4814.

APRIL 10-12
LOUISIANA RAILROAD DAYS FESTIVAL: DeQuincy. Country singer Ronnie McDowell headlines the entertainment at this year’s festival. He’ll perform at 8 p.m. Saturday. Also look for food booths, carnival rides, talent show, pageant, 5K run, diaper derby, model train show, domino and chess tournaments, part-child look-alike contest, live music, street dance, bike parade, children’s activities, scavenger hunt and old timers reunion. (337) 786-2823.

APRIL 11-13
PONCHATOULA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Ponchatoula. Parade, strawberry-eating contest, baking contest, hollering contest, sack race and more. Live entertainment includes Brandon Bennett, Big Al & the Heavyweights, The Way Goners, Mojeaux, Bits & Pieces, Five Finger Discount, Magnolia, Soul Vaxxination and Irma Thomas. Hours are 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. http://www.lastrawberryfestival.com or (800) 917-7045.

FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL:  New Orleans French Quarter. Showcase for local musicians on outdoor stages throughout the Quarter with jazz, contemporary, Latin, Cajun, gospel and many other types of music. Sample classic New Orleans cuisine at food and drink booths, attend an art show or courtyards tour. A second line parade will kick off the festival on Friday. Also look for live oral history interviews with area musicians, the world’s largest praline contest and children’s entertainment and activities. Live music includes    Dukes of Dixieland, Charmaine Neville, The Ronnie Kole Show with John Perkins, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, the Pfister Sisters and Kermit Ruffins. http://www.fqfi.org.   

GREAT LOUISIANA BIRDFEST: Northlake Nature Center, Mandeville. The festival coincides with the migration of many species north through Louisiana from Mexico and South America. The event includes workshops and trips to Grand Isle, Lake Martin, Manchac Swamp, Big Branch, the Abita Flatwoods Preserve, east Pearl River and Pine Island Rookery. There’s a riverboat cruise on the Tchefuncte on Saturday evening. http://www.northlakenature.org.

ST. JAMES HIGH SPRING FAIR: 5181 Wildcat Drive, St. James. Rides, games, food, music and more. (225) 265-3911.

APRIL 12
FRANKLIN PARISH CATFISH FESTIVAL: starting at 8 a.m., downtown Winnsboro.  Doug Kershaw is the headlining musician. More musical acts are planned, as well as food booths, 300 arts and crafts vendors, children’s games, a Corvette show. (318) 435-7607 or http://www.franklinparishcatfishfestival.com.

April 12-13
FESTIVAL IN THE PARK: Cassidy Park on Willis Avenue in Bogalusa. Live entertainment, carnival, arts and crafts, food, children’s entertainment, Civil War camp life and battle re-enactments both days. (985) 839-5228 or http://www.washington
parishtourism.com

APRIL 16-19
RED STICK INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL: downtown Baton Rouge, including Manship Theatre, Shaw Center for the Arts, Louisiana Art & Science Museum, Old State Capitol. Workshops, film screenings, lectures, princess ball for girls and their fathers, cartoon-a-palooza and more. (225) 578-3469.

APRIL 18-19
BAYOU TECHE BEAR FESTIVAL: downtown Franklin. The festival salutes the Louisiana Black Bear with an art and photography show, food, run/walk, live bands, arts and crafts, children’s area, cooking contest, fireworks on the bayou, Teddy bear repair clinic, boat trips,  a Mutt Strut, and oyster eating contest. http://www.bayoutechebearfest.org, (985) 395-3126 or (800) 256-2931.

GRAND ISLE MIGRATORY BIRD CELEBRATION: Grand Isle Bird Sanctuary woods and Grand Isle State Park. Bird-watching tours, island history tours, bird-related arts and crafts.  Call (800) 259-0869.

APRIL 19
ART UNDER THE OAKS: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Edward Douglass White Historic Site, six miles north of Thibodaux. Live music, food, children’s entertainment. Free. (985) 447-0915.

APRIL 19-20
ANGOLA PRISON RODEO: Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola. Bareback riding, wild cow milking, barrel racing, bull riding, buddy pick-up, prison arts and crafts, bands, food, and more. Gates open at 9 a.m., and the rodeo starts at 2 p.m. Crafts booths stay open until 5 p.m. Admission $10. (225) 655-2133, http://www.angolarodeo.com.

APRIL 20
RUE DE LA ROUX: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Lemann Center, Donaldsonville. This benefit for Ascension Catholic School offers food of all kinds, plenty of games for kids, and an auction in the afternoon. Free admission. (225) 473-9227.

APRIL 19-27
BATON ROUGE BLUES WEEK: Venues include Phil Brady’s Bar & Grill, Teddy’s Juke Joint, Roux House, Manship Theatre, Chelsea’s Cafe. Performers include Chris Thomas King, Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington, James Johnson, Lil Ray Neal, Tabby Thomas Blues Revue, Michael Foster Project, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, Henry Butler, Henry Gray and many more. http://www.louisianasmusic.com.

APRIL 20
LOUISIANA EARTH DAY: North Boulevard by Galvez Plaza, Baton Rouge. Formerly Baton Rouge Earth Day, the theme of the 19th annual celebration is “Lead the Way” to encourage citizens to take the lead as environmental stewards. The event will include hands-on environmental education activities, including the wetlands tent, recycling fair, Earth market, international pavilion, natural health and healing, Louisiana and Native American culture, Earth-friendly habitat, agricultural exhibits and petting zoo. The all-species parade begins activities, and music on four stages starts at 1 p.m. featuring Mr. Hinson’s File 13, Iguanas, Marva Wright and the BMWs, Wayne Toups and Zydecajun, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Savoir Faire, Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, Walter Wolfman Washington and the Michael Foster Project. http://www.earthdaybr.org.

APRIL 21-27
AGMAGIC: Parker Coliseum, LSU campus. Learn about the magic of agriculture at this annual event that features live plants and animals, ranging from a simulated forest to a barnyard full of animals. Also see a butterfly exhibit, tanks of fish and crawfish, demonstrations, education stations and more. (225) 578-2263.

APRIL 23-27
FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE LOUISIANE: downtown Lafayette. The five-day event, which celebrates music and food from all over the world, features musical performers on six stages. Food court areas, street musicians, arts and crafts boutiques, art galleries, international cooking demonstrations and a world music store. Free. Hours are 6-11 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. http://www.festivalinternational.com.

APRIL 24-26
LIVE OAK CAJUN ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL: South Live Oak Elementary School, 8400 Cecil Drive, Watson. In addition to arts and crafts, there will be carnival rides, local artists, children’s games, live auction, spacewalk, entertainment. Hours are 5-9 p.m. Thursday (carnival rides only), 1-9 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. (225) 667-9330.

APRIL 25-27
BATTLE OF JACKSON CROSSROADS: La. 68, Jackson. Civil War re-enactments Saturday and Sunday sponsored by the Living History Association of Jackson. Park opens to spectators at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Battle of Jackson Crossroads is at 2:45 p.m. Saturday and 1:45 p.m. Sunday. Friday is special demonstration for schools, and there will be a night barrage, way station, ladies’ tea and a church service Sunday at 10 a.m. Admission $7 adults, $6 seniors 62 and older, $3 children 5-12, free children 4-under. http://www.battleofjacksoncrossroads.org.

LAROSE FAMILY FUN FEST: Larose Regional Park, Larose. Festival organizers say the food is the fest’s biggest draw, from shrimp boulettes to jambalaya to crawfish fettuccine, and all those sweets. Musical entertainment will include Seabrook, Plow, Harry Anselmi and the Cajun Boys, Blue-Eyed Soul, Raux Shambo, Southern Cross, Waylon Thibodeaux and Wayne Foret. Also look for basketball, flag football and kids’ casting tournaments, pirogue races and folklife demonstrations. Hours are 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Free. (985) 693-7355.

FESTIVAL DE LA PRAIRIE: St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 15208 La. 73., Prairieville. This annual church fundraiser features live bands, carnival rides, games, an auction and all kinds of food. (225) 673-8307.

ETOUFFEE FESTIVAL: Little Flower School grounds, Main Street, Arnaudville. It’s the 22nd anniversary of the fair, which benefits St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church. Look for a pageant, silent auction, mayor’s cook-off, dancing, live musical entertainment, bingo, silent auction, carnival, parade, car, truck and motorcycle show, and lots of food booths. Hours are 5 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. (337) 754-5912.

APRIL 25-27, MAY 1-4
NEW ORLEANS JAZZ AND HERITAGE FESTIVAL: Fairgrounds Racetrack and various other locations in New Orleans. A host of performers will be on hand, including the Neville Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffett, Tim McGraw, Santana, Maze feat. Frankie Beverly, Sheryl Crow, Widespread Panic, Dr. John, Al Green, Diana Krall, Keyshia Cole, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, The Raconteurs and Irma Thomas. Enjoy crafts, villages and marketplaces in addition to a food extravaganza. All-day admission $40 in advance, $50 at the gate, $5 children 2-11. http://www.nojazzfest.com.

APRIL 26
BATON ROUGE BLUES FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.- 10 p.m. in Repentance Park (located in the fountain area between the River Center and Old State Capitol.)  Featuring the BRHMS Bulldog Blues Band, Phil Guy, Larry Garner, Marcia Ball, Luther Kent & Trick Bag, Tab Benoit, Lazy Lester w/ Rudy Richard & James Johnson, Kenny Neal and more.  http://www.louisianasmusic.com or http://www.batonrougebluesfestival.org.

DENHAM SPRINGS SPRING FESTIVAL: Antique Village, Range Avenue, Denham Springs. Antiques and collectibles booths featuring pottery, artwork, jewelry, etc. Food, carnival rides and live entertainment. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (225) 665-4666.

APRIL 29-MAY 11
CONTRABAND DAYS FESTIVAL: Lake Charles. The 51st annual event includes classic car show, golf tournament, sailboat regatta, barbecue cook-off, fireworks display and plenty of music. Performers include Louisiana Express, Dr. Hook with Ray Sawyer, T.K. Hulin, Georgia Satellite, John Ieyoub and many more. Admission $3, pre-school children free. Parking on grounds, $2. http://www.contrabanddays.com.

Look for current festival updates in each week's Friday FUN section of the
Morning Advocate and Visit Baton Rouge