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Mardi Gras has become synonymous with Louisiana. The celebration originated as a "last hurrah" before Lent. Carnival season starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany (Jan. 6) and peaks on Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Louisiana established Mardi Gras as a legal holiday in 1875 and it is celebrated statewide.  

Future Mardi Gras dates: 

March 4, 2014

Feb. 17, 2015

Feb. 9, 2016

Feb. 28, 2017

Looking for top-notch, inexpensive family entertainment, great food, a beautiful outdoor experience and some of the best music in the world? Two words: Louisiana festivals.

More than 400 Louisiana festivals occur each year – which makes it easy to see why Louisiana is often called the Festival Capital of America. We celebrate just about every crop harvested, every indigenous dish, every type of music that's played here – ranging from Cajun and zydeco to Delta blues, New Orleans jazz, Louisiana's own swamp pop, country, salsa and more. Excellent Louisiana food is a given at any festival. And as always, Louisiana festivals offer abundant opportunities for meeting new friends.

Themed festivals range from a Strawberry Festival in Ponchatoula and Tomato Festival in Chalmette to the great Festival International in Lafayette; from the big Contraband Days Pirate Festival in Lake Charles to the Holiday Festival of Lights in Natchitoches. From the Red River Revel in Shreveport to the Catfish Festival in Washington. Of course, you'll want to visit the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or the big family-fun French Quarter Festival.

And for the biggest of them all? That's right, Louisiana is home to Mardi Gras! But that's another story – and a very large one across the state!

Sportsman's Paradise

DeltaFest (April), Monroe

Franklin Parish Catfish Festival (April), Winnsboro

Holiday in Dixie (April), Shreveport

Louisiana Southern Fried Festival (May), Monroe

Mudbug Madness (May), Shreveport

Louisiana Peach Festival (June), Ruston

Red River Revel (October), Shreveport

State Fair of Louisiana (October – November), Shreveport

Crossroads

Jazz and R&B Festival (April), Natchitoches

Louisiana Corn Festival (June), Bunkie

Celebration on the Cane (July 4), Natchitoches

Good Ole Days Festival (September), Marthaville

Meat Pie Festival (September), Natchitoches

Heritage Festival (October), Robeline

Zwolle Tamale Fiesta (October), Zwolle

Christmas Festival (December), Natchitoches

Cajun Country

Courir de Mardi Gras (February/March), rural southwest Louisiana communities

Black Heritage Festival (March), Lake Charles

Festival International de Louisiane (April), Lafayette

Contraband Days (May), Lake Charles

Crawfish Festival (May), Breaux Bridge

Church Point Buggy Festival (June), Church Point

Red, White, Blue & You Festival (July 4), Lake Charles

Shrimp & Petroleum Festival (September), Morgan City

Festival Acadiens et Créoles (October), Lafayette

International Rice Festival (October), Crowley

Rayne Frog Festival (November), Rayne

Plantation Country

Audubon Pilgrimage (March), St. Francisville

Kite Fest Louisiane (March), Port Allen

Angola Rodeo (April and October), Angola

Baton Rouge Blues Festival (April), Baton Rouge

Bayou Country Superfest (May), Baton Rouge

FestForAll (May), Baton Rouge

Jambalaya Festival (May), Gonzales

Red Stick Animation Festival (June), Baton Rouge

Greater Baton Rouge State Fair (October – November), Baton Rouge

Mississippi River Levee Bonfires (December), St. James Parish

Greater New Orleans Area

Mardi Gras (February/March)

Isleños Fiesta (March), St. Bernard

French Quarter Festival (April), New Orleans

Strawberry Festival (April), Ponchatoula

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (late April to early May), New Orleans

New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (May), New Orleans

Essence Music Festival (July), New Orleans

Satchmo SummerFest (August), New Orleans

Washington Parish Free Fair (October), Franklinton

Christmas New Orleans Style (December), New Orleans

Our tourism department comes up with the list each year and selects the top 10 based upon significant anniversaries, unique events and those with large attendance. Hundreds  of events are scheduled around the State of Louisiana for 2014.   Below are the Top 10 Louisiana Events of 2014 that are listed in the  annual vacation guide/calendar of events covering  events across the State of Louisiana,

including events in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Cajun Country and more.