Festivals La Louisianne - September Baton Rouge Louisiana City Guide and Internet Rest Area: Links

* HUNTING AND FISHING DAY: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Waddill Outdoor Education Center, 4142 Flannery Road. Activities include clinics on hunting, fishing, canoeing and target shooting with BB guns and bows and arrows. There will also be a fishing contest, as well as demonstrations by experts in several fields. Louisiana game and seafood dishes. Free admission. Sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. (225) 765-2465.

* LES CADIENS DU TECHE CAJUN MUSIC FESTIVAL: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Cyr Gates Community Center, 300 Parkview Drive, New Iberia. Music, food, arts and crafts, door prizes. (888) 942-3742.

Sept. 23

* INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE CELEBRATION: noon-8 p.m., Baton Rouge River Center. Immerse yourself in a festival of cultures from around the world. Activities will include an international bazaar for gift-buying, a parade of nations featuring bagpipers, international food, dance and shopping at the Louisiana Artists’ Village. Musicians will include Smithfield Fair, Ovie G and the Froggies (Las Ranas), John Gray and Friends, Cantee Cajun BandÂ and the Cajun Dancers. Free.

* ST. JAMES HISTORICAL SOCIETY HERITAGE DAY: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Culture & Heritage Center, corner of Lutcher Avenue and River Road, Lutcher. Entertainment and activities for all ages, including cane grinding demonstration, photography workshop, food, sweets, musical entertainment, tours of historic buildings. (225) 869-4183.

Sept. 26-30

* LOUISIANA SUGAR CANE FESTIVAL: Sugar Cane Festival Building, City Park, Parkview Drive, New Iberia, and various locations in town. The festival kicks off at 5 p.m. Wednesday with family night on the midway. The king’s reception is Thursday, with a brown bag concert 11:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. Friday in Bouligny Plaza. Also, exhibits, garden/flower show, art show, photography show, tennis tournament, boat parade at 6:30 p.m. Friday, fireworks at 7:15 p.m. The fais do do/music concert at 6:30 p.m. will feature Andy Smith and Rockin’ Dopsie. More of the same on Saturday, with headliners Gina Brown and Trash. Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday. (337) 369-9323 or go online to http://www.lovelasugar.aol.com for more information.

Sept. 28-29

* LOUISIANA CHICKEN FESTIVAL: Main Street, downtown Dubach. The event is sponsored by the Dubach Restoration & Beautification Organization and offers a photography contest, arts and crafts booths, games, street dancing with the Mike McKenzie Band, a quilt show, health fair, drumstick eating contest, parade and lawnmower races. A gospel music concert is planned for 6-8 p.m. Saturday. (318) 777-3321.

* JIM BOWIE FESTIVAL: Vidalia. This event commemorates the 1827 duel between Dr. Thomas Maddox and Samuel Levi Well III. The duel gave birth to the legend of Jim Bowie. In addition to a re-enactment of the infamous “Sandbar Duel,” there will be a barbecue competition, pageant, live bands, fishing tournament, artists and a street dance. (318) 336-8223.Â Â Â

* ST. HELENA PARISH FOREST FESTIVAL: Greensburg Park, South Third Street. Wild game cook-off, dance, live music, children’s games, arts and crafts, food, “woodsman of the year” contest. (225) 222-4312.

Sept. 29

* ROCKTOBER FESTIVAL: 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Buddy Stewart’s Rhythm Museum, 1712 N. Acadian Thruway West. Baton Rouge’s musical heritage is celebrated with live music starting at noon. Look for the Baton Rouge Blues Revue and a host of other live bands. Also featured will be local gospel, jazz and zydeco bands, as well as elementary school music and dance groups. Food, games, children’s village, prizes. Free. (225) 229-8698 or (225) 383-9661.

* ATCHAFALAYA CATFISH FESTIVAL: Civic Center, Melville. The festival parade rolls through town at 11 a.m. Entertainment starts at 1 p.m. and will offer The Angola Band, Shane West & Turning Point, Elvis Barker, T-Broussard & the Zydeco Steppers and Kim Brasseau & Louisiana Boogie. Lots of food, arts and crafts and children’s activities. (337) 623-4226.

Sept. 29-30

* RURAL LIFE HARVEST DAYS: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. both days, LSU Rural Life Museum, I-10 at Essen Lane. Living history demonstrations will take visitors back to 19th century life on Louisiana farms and plantations. Watch syrup making, spinning, weaving, open hearth cooking, candle making, plowing and corn grinding. Admission $5 per person. Children under age 5 free. (225) 765-2437.

Sept. 29-Oct. 6

* RED RIVER REVEL ARTS FESTIVAL: Festival Plaza on the riverfront, downtown Shreveport. This 32nd annual event is an outdoor festival that in the past has drawn more than 180,000 people from a five-state region. The eight-day celebration features entertainment artists, live music, children’s art activities, food booths and shopping opportunities. (318) 424-4000 or http://www.redriverrevel.com.

Sept. 30

* LATIN FESTIVAL: 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Catholic Deaf Center, 2585 Brightside Drive. Latin foods, folk dances, pageants, raffles, Latin music, silent auction, games, children’s activities and more. Benefits the Hispanic Apostolate of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Admission $3; free for children under age 13. (225) 927-8700.

* CONGO SQUARE RHYTHMS FESTIVAL: Louis Armstrong Park, New Orleans. New event that celebrates the history and cultural significance of Congo Square by bringing music, dance, food and crafts to the cobblestone plaza within Louis Armstrong Park. Highlights include Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, African drum and dance performances, and a special mass featuring the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama. (504) 558-6100.

Sept. 30-Oct. 31

* FANFARE: various locations, but primarily the Southeastern Louisiana University campus and Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, downtown Hammond. The month-long festival of the arts, humanities and sciences will be highlighted by performances by Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Famer Gregg Allman, Barrage, a high-octane fiddle fest; The Capitol Steps and the Missoula Children’s Theatre, among other performances. Also look for music concerts, lectures, art exhibits and a foreign film series. (985) 543-4366 or http://www.columbiatheatre.org.

2009

Festivals in 2008. If not listed above, contact number listed below.