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To Do in Lafayette

Stroll through downtown the second Saturday of every month for “2nd Saturday ArtWalk,” from 6-8 pm. Galleries spotlight the work of local and touring artists in over a dozen downtown galleries, restaurants, clubs and shops. In addition to art, ArtWalk also offers live music, food and drink during and after the event. Call (337) 291-5566 for more information and gallery listings or visit the events listing at DowntownLafayette.org.

Treat your ears to the classical sounds of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, one of the fastest growing and most successful regional orchestras in the entire nation. The Orchestra performs concerts at the Heymann Performing Arts Center under the direction of Maestro Mariusz Smolij. Call (337) 232-4277 or visit acadianasymphony.org for season tickets and more information.

See nationally and internationally recognized performing artists in opera, theater, dance and music during the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana (PASA) season. Performances are held at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. Call (337) 237-2787 or visit pasa-online.org for a schedule of events and season tickets.

Take in a Broadway show with the Theatre League of Louisiana, the local presenter of nationally touring Broadway productions. The Theatre League of Louisiana Broadway Series features between five and eight presentations each season. All performances are held at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. Call (337) 291-5555 for a full schedule or more information.

Experience the magic of Lafayette Ballet Theatre’s professional ballets, featuring world-class guest artists performing side by side with our area’s talented artists. Unforgettable memories are made through the magical holiday classic. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. For more information, call (337) 262-0444 or visit lafayetteballettheatre.org.

Tap your feet and grab a bite to eat at Bach Lunch, a free weekly music series held on Fridays during the spring and fall in downtown’s Parc Sans Souci. Bach Lunch presents local bands and food from area restaurants from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Call (337) 291-5566 for more information or visit the events listing at DowntownLafayette.org.

Unwind after 5 at Downtown Alive!, a free weekly music series held on Fridays during the spring and fall in downtown Lafayette. DTA! presents local and regional bands from 5:30–8:30 p.m. Call (337) 291-5566 for more information and band schedules or visit the events listing at DowntownLafayette.org.

Take a day trip to Henderson for swamp tours on the Atchafalaya Basin. Enjoy Cajun cuisine at restaurants like Robin’s and Pat’s or Cajun music and cold beer overlooking the basin at McGee’s Landing or the Atchafalaya Club. Relax at Cajun Palms RV Resort, a full service campground resort complete with pool, clubhouse and a tiki bar.

Visit the Village of River Ranch for its fall and spring music series, Rhythms on the River. Local bands play in the Town Square from 5:30–8:30 p.m., and shops keep their doors open late. Call (337) 216-0249 or visit riverranchlafayette.com for more information.

Environmental education programs, exhibits and natural history activities highlight Southwest Louisiana’s unique ecology at Acadiana Park Nature Station. The station is situated on 42 acres of bottomland hardwood forest in the northern part of Lafayette with a three-mile nature trail, guided bird tours and monthly night hikes. Call (337) 291-8448 for more information.

Come monkey around with more than 500 exotic animals from six continents at the Zoo of Acadiana: a 45-acre park nestled away in jungle brush. Get up close and personal with Jolie the White Tiger, Gabriel the Giraffe, countless birds, primates and so much more! Take a ride on the Antelope Express Train and visit the Reptile House. The zoo is open seven days a week from 9 am–5 pm. ZooOfAcadiana.org; (337) 837-4325; 5601 US 90 E, Broussard.

Experience a taste of Germany at the Roberts Cove Germanfest, held the first weekend in October in the community of Roberts Cove, which is about 25 minutes from Lafayette. The fest includes German music, dancing, food and beer. Call (337) 334-8354 or go to robertscovegermanfest.com for more information.

LIBRARIES

Main Library Downtown
301 West Congress St.
Lafayette, LA
(337) 261-5787

Butler Memorial Branch
309 Cora St.
Lafayette, LA
(337) 234-0363

Broussard Branch
100 West Main St.
Broussard, LA
(337) 837-3936

Chenier Center
220 West Willow St., Bldg. C
Lafayette, LA
(337) 291-2941

Duson Branch
708 First St.
Duson, LA
(337) 837-3521

Milton Branch
Cedar Village Shopping Center,
Hwy. 92
(337) 856-5261

North Regional Library
5101 North University Ave.
Carencro, LA
(337) 896-6323

Scott Branch
5808 West Cameron St.
Scott, LA
(337) 232-9321

South Regional Library
6101 Johnston St.
Lafayette, LA
(337) 981-1028

Youngsville Branch
506 Lafayette St.
Youngsville, LA
(337) 856-9385

LAFAYETTE MUSEUMS

Acadian Cultural Center of Jean Lafitte
National Historical Park & Preserve
501 Fisher Road
(337) 232-0789
nps.gov/jela/new-acadian-cultural-center.htm
This National Park facility features extensive exhibits and artifacts recounting the story of the region’s Acadian population, their history, language, music and architecture. An auditorium features a 40-minute film chronicling the Acadian deportation from Nova Scotia. Publications, music, children’s books and crafts are available for purchase. The center is open daily from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and closed December 25th and Mardi Gras day.

Acadian Village
200 Greenleaf Drive
(337) 981-2364, (800) 962-9133
acadianvillage.org
Lafayette’s oldest authentic vision of life in nineteenth century Southwest Louisiana. Acadian Village is a showcase of authentic homes along a winding bayou, which depicts unique Acadian architecture of the time. The homes were restored on-site and are filled with period antiques. Open daily 10 a.m.– 4 p.m.

In the month of December, attend Noel Acadien au Village. It has been a part of LARC’s fundraising history for 30 years. Since the 1950s, LARC has been dedicated to serving the needs of people in our community with developmental disabilities. Throughout LARC’s existence, we have continually expanded to fully include our clients in the mainstream workforce of the community.

Visitors from around the country and across the globe join Acadiana in touring the 10-acre grounds. There is so much to enjoy at Noel Acadien au Village that one trip isn’t enough. After touring the lighting displays, which display over half a million lights, there are carnival rides, nightly live entertainment, local food in Santa’s Kitchen, shopping in the Christmas Store, photos with Santa and so much more!

Acadiana Center for the Arts
101 W. Vermilion St.
(337) 233-7060
AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org
info@AcadianaArtsCouncil.org
Lafayette’s downtown multidisciplinary arts venue, the Acadiana Center for the Arts, includes a 5,000-square-foot main gallery space and three smaller galleries; lectures and seminars; studio spaces; musical, theatrical and dance performances; and a gift shop. The new theater has seating for 300 and state-of-the-art acoustics. Its re-configurable space can accommodate every type of performance—theater, dance, film and music—from a full orchestra to a Cajun or Zydeco band. The new space also will house AcA’s well-known programs, such as Louisiana Crossroads and the Arts in Education Family Performance Series, providing a much-needed hub for arts in the heart of Acadiana.

Alexandre Mouton House & Lafayette Museum
1122 Lafayette St.
(337) 234-2208
The Lafayette Museum is the nineteenth century home of Louisiana’s first Democratic Governor, Alexandre Mouton. Period furnishings, paintings, documents, maps and Mardi Gras costumes are on display, in addition to artifacts from the Civil War. During the Christmas season, the museum is decorated inside and out by area florists. The house and museum are open Tuesday–Saturday from 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 1–4 p.m.; closed Mondays and major holidays.

Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
515 Cathedral Street
(337) 232-1322
saintjohncathedral.org
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, completed in 1916, is listed on the National Registry of Historic Properties. Located near the Dutch Romanesque church is the third oldest oak tree recognized by the Live Oak Society. The aboveground cemetery dates back to 1820. The museum chronicles the parish history through artifacts, documents and memorabilia. It also houses a notable Italian Nativity. The adjoining gift shop offers modestly priced cards, jewelry, art and hand crafted items. Pre-arranged tours are available. Open Monday–Friday 9 a.m.– noon, 1–4 p.m.

Children’s Museum of Acadiana
201 E. Congress St.
(337) 232-8500
childrensmuseumofacadiana.com
The hands-on Children’s Museum of Acadiana in downtown Lafayette is a colorful, exciting place where children enjoy “Learning By Doing.” Exhibits are designed for children from toddlers to age 10 and include a television station, bubble factory and grocery store. Children can also visit the Café des Enfants, Reuseum and Ambulance. The museum offers field trips, birthday parties and scout workshops and is open to the public Tuesday–Saturday, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium
433 Jefferson St.
(337) 291-5544
lafayettesciencemuseum.org
The Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium downtown presents over 10,000 square feet of exhibitions; planetarium shows; hands-on, interactive experiences; films; and workshops on science, history and culture. Traveling exhibitions, from organizations like the Smithsonian Institution and National Science Foundation, change quarterly as do planetarium shows. The museum and planetarium are open Tuesday from 9 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Wednesday–Friday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m.– 6 p.m., and Sunday from 1–6 p.m.

Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum
University of Louisiana, Lafayette
710 E. St. Mary Blvd.
(337) 482-2278
museum.louisiana.edu
The Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum in Lafayette, Louisiana is Acadiana’s architectural landmark and the largest art museum between Houston and New Orleans. The museum features a variety of changing exhibitions and a continuing schedule of lectures and programs. Come enjoy the museum and the beauty of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus just blocks away from the galleries, shops and famous restaurants of downtown Lafayette and the Oil Center. The museum is open 9 a.m.–5p.m. Tuesday–Thursday; 9 a.m.–12 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday; and is closed on Sundays, Mondays and major holidays.

Vermilionville
300 Fisher Road
(337) 233-4077
(866) 99-BAYOU
vermilionville.org
Vermilionville is a Cajun and Creole Heritage and Folklife Park located along the banks of the Bayou Vermilion in Lafayette. The historic village is made up of 20 structures, seven of which are original homes of the area that have been moved to our site. In addition to the homes, Vermilionville’s village includes a Native American hut, a blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse, a chapel and more.

The village’s structures, the artifacts found inside and even the plants on the grounds, are meant to represent life for the early Acadian and Creole settlers in Louisiana between the years of 1765 and 1890. Costumed historical interpreters demonstrate traditional crafts, cooking, gardening and music throughout the village. Schedule a boat tour down the Bayou Vermilion to see Lafayette from a whole new vantage point (weather and water conditions permitting).

Although every effort has been made to recreate a time period of the past, a few modern conveniences have been added. Our structures are air conditioned and handicapped accessible.

Join us on Saturdays for our Cajun Jams or Sundays for our live band. Vermilionville’s restaurant, La Cuisine de Maman, is open daily for lunch. In addition to the menu, we offer a plate lunch or buffet each day. Fridays always feature an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet!

Vermilionville also has an 8-room, interactive watershed exhibit, showcasing how humans affect waterways and what the water means to mankind, focusing specifically on the Bayou Vermilion.

The on-site gift shop is filled with this area’s locally-crafted items, Cajun and Creole music, movies, books and art, plus beautiful fleur-de-lis items. Yearly memberships are available. Vermilionville is open Tuesday–Sunday from 10am–4pm. The village is closed on Mondays and major holidays.

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Coushatta Casino Resort
www.coushattacasinoresort.com

Bayou Vermilion District
www.bayouvermilion.org


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