It’s Back! The Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival
One of Louisiana’s most unique and oldest chartered harvest festivals is back on deck for Labor Day Weekend! Beginning more than 80 years ago as a blessing of the shrimp harvest and a celebration of the many who labored in the deep Gulf waters, the petroleum industry was added in 1967 to also honor this important industry. The Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival has grown from a simple event, paying tribute to both of these time-honored industries, to the 5-day extravaganza it is today! It features great food (shrimp just about any way you can cook it), continuous, free live music, arts & crafts, children’s activities, and traditional events, such as the blessing of the fleet and boat parade.
In addition to the unique name, the unique Cajun culture on the Cajun Coast is celebrated at the festival. The Annual Cajun Culinary Classic showcases local “home style” cooking featuring delicious Cajun and Creole dishes as well as a variety of desserts and other cuisines. Artists and crafters from south Louisiana will showcase their unique merchandise and artistic masterpieces. And a street parade, water parade with blessing of the fleet, and fireworks on the Atchafalaya River, mark the joie de vivre, joy of living, so prominent in the Cajun way of life.
The blessing of the fleet is a special part of the festival, and giving thanks for the harvest begins with Mass in the Park under the oaks in Lawrence Park on Sunday. After the water blessings from the Morgan City docks and celebrations on the Atchafalaya River, a Certificate of Blessing and a prayer card of St. Brendan the Navigator, patron Saint of Seafarers is presented to each participant.
The Shrimp & Petroleum Festival has been honored as a Festival of the Year by the Louisiana Fairs & Festivals Association, a Top 100 American Bus Association event and a top 20 Southeast Tourism Society event. It was even noted by Time magazine as “…the best, the most unusual, the most down-home, the most moving and the most fun that the country has to offer.”
Come join in the fun – make your reservations now for Labor Day weekend on the Cajun Coast!
Get Together on the Cajun Coast!
Get together this summer on the Cajun Coast! There’s plenty for the kids (and you!) to do, from fishing to swamp tours, or just splashing by the water’s edge. Go exploring in the Atchafalaya Basin, climb aboard an oil rig, or even rent a houseboat, you’ll have fun and maybe even learn a little something this summer! And, live music is also back – be sure to check the calendar!
Summer on the Cajun Coast also means basking in the sunshine along with ways to beat the heat! Spending time on the water is easy on the coast. There are plenty of options stay and enjoy the waterside, from Cypremort Point State Park to Kemper Williams Park to houseboats to stay directly on the water! Lake End Park has also long been a beautiful haven along Lake Palourde with walking trails and fishing spots, and now they are also offering options for renting kayaks and other water equipment, beach chairs and even beach toys. Check our Stay section to make your reservations.
Experience the Atchafalaya Basin through a swamp tour! From outings with Captain Caviar to excursions through Cajun Experiences R Us, you will be amazed at the unique sights within this vast wetland.
The kids will love all the cool “museums” available on the Cajun Coast as well. They will enjoy learning about the oil industry on this retired oil rig and the many ways oil is used at the International Petroleum Museum & Exposition, the “Mr. Charlie.”
Visit the Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum (A Louisiana State Museum). Their imaginations will soar with all of the aviation exploration.
Tour the Chitimacha Museum in Charenton. The Chitimacha were the first settlers to the area and lived in and around the Atchafalaya Basin. The museum documents their history, culture and their efforts in preservation.
Or enjoy the Southwest Reef Lighthouse in Berwick.This iconic symbol in Berwick is one of only 3 lighthouses in Louisiana that are easily accessible, and visitors can see the structure up-close for FREE at the Everett S. Berry Memorial Lighthouse Park.
Then burn off that extra energy with a view! Walk the “Great Wall,” a 21-foot seawall. Built for flood protection, visitors can climb up for a bird’s eye view of the traffic in the Atchafalaya River, one of the busiest rivers in the state.
The beauty of this area is also not-to-be-missed. You can drive the National Bayou Teche Scenic Byway or take a trail to bike, hike or paddle your way through the Cajun Coast The Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge and Boardwalk in Franklin will keep your nature-lover happy as well.
Cooling off with a good old fashioned snowball is also a delicious solution! These shaved ice concoctions of sugary syrup and any number of add-ins, from condensed milk to fruits and candies, are a prized commodity on a summer afternoon. Check out our Delis & Bakeries page for updates, but below are a few locations to pick up one of these treats around the Cajun Coast! Tag us on social and let us know your favorite! #cajuncoast
Adams’ Snoballs – 905 Iberia Street, Franklin
Cajun Sneaux Snowballs – 804 Marguerite Street, Morgan City
The Big Chill – 202 Tournament Boulevard Berwick
Regardless how you chill this summer, pack up your crew and have fun in the summer sun on the Cajun Coast!
What’s Cooking on the Coast!
VISIT THE WHAT’S COOKING PAGE FOR FEATURED RESTAURANTS
The Cajun Coast is known for its amazing dining – from down-home Cajun fare run by the same family for generations to Asian-Cajun fusion and some of the best BBQ around. So, it’s no wonder we need an entire month to celebrate dining!
The month of June is being planned as Restaurant Month throughout the Cajun Coast! What’s Cooking on the Coast will showcase featured deals at area restaurants and specials throughout the area! Features include delicious deals, from special pricing on steak dinners to locally caught fish or jumbo crab cakes, and of course, a healthy sampling of etouffees, gumbos, and bread puddings, and a cocktail or two!
The restaurants range from 5-star dining to mom-and-pop favorites to international fare. Specials are made available during lunch or dinner, depending on the locale, so make sure you plan accordingly, and come hungry, no matter the time of day!
Check out the What’s Cooking on the Coast page and follow us on Facebook to find out more and plan your foodie adventure!
Come Shop ‘Til You Drop
Come to Bayou Shopping Days in May!
Whether by yourself or with your buddies, Bayou Shopping Days is the place to be in May! Not only are there deals on shopping throughout the Cajun Coast, there are dining deals, special events, and a passport to enter for $500 in gift cards! Get all the details on our Bayou Shopping page.
You can snag a passport at any of 27 participating locations in St. Mary Parish or go ahead and download one on the site. Inside each passport you’ll find a business directory, rules for participation, and places to get stamped! Each time you spend $10 or more at a participating location you’ll earn a stamp on your passport. You can receive up to two stamps at each shop!
The deals kick off at the Bayou to Main Marketplace in Franklin on May 1 along with live music as well as Ghost Tours of Franklin with Tours by Steven. A Color Run and Parking Lot Party are happening in Patterson that same day!
The shopping and fun continue in Morgan City May 6-8th, with special events, mimosas & dining, artists, pop-ups, and even yoga at the lake to find your peace, shopping in paradise!
The following weekend, May 14-15, Berwick features Market Under the Bridge, dining and cocktail deals, pop-up events, artists, and historic tours.
Memorial Day weekend also features fun like extra Tours by Steven and a BBQ and Volleyball Competition in Patterson.
Throughout the month, there are hotel specials, golf and shopping deals, and casino gaming !
Come support small business and have an amazing month of shopping, dining, and touring on the Cajun Coast.
DON’T FORGET! SUBMIT COMPLETED PASSPORTS BEFORE THE DRAWING ON JUNE 14TH, 2021.
You can drop them off during business hours at 900 Dr. MLK Blvd., Morgan City, LA, mail them to P.O. Box 2332, Morgan City, LA or drop them off at 906-½ Main Street in Franklin.
The Cajun Coast is Big on Birding
Birding is Big all year on the Cajun Coast, from Spring and Fall migrations to the annual Eagle Expo, but we’re hosting a Big Day competition April 17th that you won’t want to miss! This friendly, one-day competition will have you spotting so many birds as they make their annual trek along the flyway that you’ll want to find out more and get your tickets today!
The spring is a great time to come birding. The Cajun Coast is located in the Mississippi flyway for migratory birds, seasonally increasing the number of species the dedicated birdwatcher can enjoy. The Atchafalaya hardwood swamp, nearby coastal marsh, and ample farmland provide ecological niches that are home to more than 200 species, from the spectacular roseate spoonbill to the comical anhinga to the humble brown thrasher. The rich variety of avian life will thrill veteran birdwatchers and intrigue beginners.
In Morgan City, The Brownell Memorial Park & Carillon Tower is a 9.5-acre park in a natural setting next to Lake Palourde. Founded as a non-denominational devotional park, admission is free. A 106-foot tall carillon tower containing 61 bronze bells graces the park and plays two selections every 30 minutes.
Swamp tours are also a great way to see egrets, herons, or other waterfowl, along with alligators and other creatures amid lush waterscapes. Book a tour, rent a kayak, or even rent a houseboat to stay.
The Atchafalaya Basin, covering one-third of Louisiana, is the largest overflow swamp in the United States. Its waterways are full of all types of birds. You can wander along the Water Heritage Sites, with nine on the Cajun Coast, or take one of our paddling trails to get up close and personal.
You can take a boardwalk out into the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge for an easy entre into an abundant birding habitat. Recently named a National Scenic Byway, the Bayou Teche Scenic Byway provides a beautiful drive along the banks of the Bayou Teche and opportunities to pull off and spot birds along the drive, as well as many places of historic beauty.
So, book your stay now to come check off your list or just enjoy the beauty of majestic birds and picturesque scenery on the Cajun Coast!
See the Coast in All Its Glory
The Cajun Coast is beautiful all year long, but Spring has its own special glory! The area literally explodes with color, on top of the green lushness of the Atchafalaya Basin area. Schedule your visit along with a swamp tour (or bring your kayak) to get up close and personal. Captain Caviar or other nearby operators are ready to bring you out to spot gators and other wildlife as well.
Along with swamp tours, there are also ways many ways to scout out the beauty of the Atchafalaya Basin and nearby waterways. You can take a boardwalk out into the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge, stroll along lovely Lake Palourde at the Brownell Memorial Park & Carillon Tower, or even stay overnight in a houseboat along the Cajun Coast – See the Swamp Tours & Paddling Page.
Recently named a National Scenic Byway, the Bayou Teche Scenic Byway provides you an additional way to see the beauty of the area, meandering along the banks of the Bayou Teche. See this lovely waterway, moss-covered trees, and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.
We have several itineraries that also make planning easy to get away from it all this Spring on a weekend getaway! You can go camping, waking along the water’s edge, take an off-the-beaten path vacation , or venture out on the birding trail,
Also, thanks to plantings earlier this year by the Louisiana Iris Conservation Initiative, we also expect a beautiful crop of irises to sprout up at the Cajun Coast Visitor Center soon, adding so much extra beauty to the swamp environment of our backyard! Stop in for a visit with our staff, and spot Gator Cayenne and her offspring, Paprika, as well as various other swamp critters before you head out on your adventure!
Plan your Spring Break on the Cajun Coast!