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Photo: Festivalinternational, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Four-day festival that brings musical acts and other performers from all over the world, with an emphasis on Francophone countries. The festival usually takes place the last weekend of April, and is usually a nice diversion from the expensive and often over-crowded New Orleans JazzFest the same time of year. The amazing food selection from local restaurants is moderately priced, and there are several shopping bazaars with everything from international vendors to local artists. Most importantly the festival is free, with a great deal of funding coming from donations made by Lafayette residents. Jefferson Street and most of Downtown Lafayette virtually shut-down to traffic from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening with around six stages of live music.
The Festival International De Louisiane is an annual music and arts festival held in Lafayette, Louisiana, celebrating the French heritage of the region and its connection to the French-speaking world. The festival was first held in 1987 and has attracted musicians, artists, and craftsmen from around the world. The festival is held outdoors in downtown Lafayette on the last full weekend of April and is free to the public. Estimates for attendance include 400,000 in 2016. The festival was voted the "Best World Music Festival" by About.com readers in their 2012 and 2013 Readers' Choice Awards. 2020 saw a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can spend an hour or so here learning about the history of the Acadian (Cajun) people. Free, donations accepted.
A large four-year university with a great campus and a small swamp containing live alligators next to the Student Union. There is a University Art Museum on campus, and an International Film Series is screened every semester.
A heritage and folk-life park depicting the way of life on the Bayou. The park has costumed French interpreters, traditional craft demos, and hosts traditional Cajun music and dance parties each Sunday.
Museum collection of over 4,000 objects including 18th-, 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century American, European and Asian art works.