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Arts, Culture and Entertainment

• Stroll through downtown the second Saturday of every month for “2nd Saturday ArtWalk.” Galleries open their doors from 5-8 p.m. with art, food and drinks. Call 337-291-5566 for more information and gallery listings, or visit the events listing at www.downtown lafayette.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 337-291-5555 or visit www.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 www.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 The Nutcracker and the full-length ballet The Sleeping Beauty, March 28, 2009. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. For more information, call 337-262-0444 or visit www.lafayetteballettheatre.org.

• Tap your feet and grab a bite to eat at Bach Lunch, a free weekly music series held every Friday 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 www.downtown lafayette.org.

• Unwind after 5 at Downtown Alive!, a free weekly music series held every Friday during the spring and fall in downtown Lafayette. DTA! presents local and regional bands from 6-8:30 p.m. Call 337-291-5566 for more information and band schedules, or visit the events listing at www.downtownlafayette.org.

• Take a day trip to Henderson for swamp tours on the Atchafalaya Basin, Cajun cuisine at restaurants like Robin’s and Pat’s, and Cajun music and cold beer overlooking the basin at McGee’s Landing or the Atchafalaya Club.

• 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 www.riverranch lafayette.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 many more! Take a ride on the Antelope Express Train, and visit the Reptile House.

The zoo is open seven days a week from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.zooof acadiana.org or call 337-837-4325. The zoo is located at 5601 Highway 90 in 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 www.roberts covegermanfest.com for more information.

Lafayette Museums

Acadian Cultural Center at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
501 Fisher Road
337-232-0789
www.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 is closed December 25 and Mardi Gras day.

Acadian Village
200 Greenleaf Drive
337-981-2364 800-962-9133
www.acadianvillage.org

The George Rodrique Exhibit, displayed in one of Acadian Village’s historic homes, features 17 portraits depicting the exile of the Acadian people. Also on display is a collection of miniature homes built by area artists. Acadian Village is home to the birthplace of Dudley “Couzan Dud” LeBlanc, the inventor of Hadacol. Open daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Acadiana Center for the Arts
101 W. Vermilion St.
337-233-7060
www.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. Phase II of the center will add a 300-seat theater, equipped with recording equipment for audiovisual productions. The theater will be home to the Louisiana Crossroads music series (held in the spring and fall), which presents local, national and international musicians and conversation in an intimate setting.

Alexandre Mouton House & Lafayette Museum
1122 Lafayette St.
337-234-2208

The Lafayette Museum is the 19th-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 Sunday from 1-4 p.m. They are closed on Monday and major holidays.

Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
515 Cathedral St.
337-232-1322

The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, completed in 1916, is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Located near the Dutch Romanesque church is the third-oldest oak tree recognized by the Live Oak Society. The above ground 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. Prearranged tours are available. The museum and gift shop are open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m.

Children’s Museum of Acadiana
201 E. Congress St.
337-232-8500

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
www.lnhm.org

The Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium downtown presents more than 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 at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
710 E. St. Mary Blvd.
337-482-2278
museum.louisiana.edu

The Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum 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 University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus just blocks away from the galleries, shops and famous restaurants of downtown Lafayette and the Oil Center.

Vermilionville
300 Fisher Road
337-233-4077
(866) 99-BAYOU
www.vermilionville.org

Vermilionville is a living history heritage and folk life museum located on 23 acres of land, showcasing life along the Bayou through six carefully crafted period homes filled with artifacts and antiques that reflect Acadian/Creole life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Costumed historical interpreters demonstrate traditional crafts, cooking and musical styles in many of the structures. The Performance Center is the location of Sunday musical performances and scheduled cultural, social and corporate events. Vermilionville’s La Cuisine de Maman restaurant is open daily for lunch, with a seafood buffet offered every Friday. Our Cajun/Creole Cooking School is available for visitor or group classes. Vermilionville is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mardi Gras

A Louisiana tradition, Lafayette has its own style of Mardi Gras that is the second-largest in the state. The Mardi Gras season features parades, balls, masking and more, most in a family-friendly atmosphere. Krewes begin gearing up for the season months in advance, as do the Lafayette and independent Mardi Gras associations. The festivities kick off each year with the Friday night parade and Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette at Cajun Field and continue through Fat Tuesday. Surrounding towns all have their own version of Mardi Gras as well, from the courirs (runs) in the countryside to Eunice’s La Grande Boucherie. For more information on Lafayette Mardi Gras, go to www.lafayettetravel.com.