Memorial Day Weekend in Acadiana

    Kids are out of school, temperatures are rising and the fun keeps on this Memorial Day Weekend. There are plenty of events happening in Lafayette and surrounding area for the long weekend. Here are a few to choose from:
    The Cajun Heartland State Fair opens Thursday, May 23, 2013, and continues with live entertainment, carnival rides and more through June 2 at the Cajundome. Rides include the giant Ferris wheel, Crazy Mouse and the Mega Drop. Performers include Bag of Donuts, Wayne Toups, Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie, Louisiana’s Leroux and more. Check the web site for special offers!

Cajun Heartland State Fair

    Looking for live music? Downtown Alive!, a weekly family-friendly free concert series held in downtown Lafayette, presents Sassafras Jubilee at 6 p.m. Friday, May 24, in Parc San Souci. In Opelousas, the Music & Market Spring Series continues with Bon Soir, Catin from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Courthouse Square.
    The Okra and Creole Zydeco Festival will be Friday and Saturday, May 24-25, at 203 N. New Market St. in St. Martinville, the first year in which the two original festivals (Okra Festival and Creole Zydeco Festival) are combined into a special two-day event that supports the African-American Museum.
    For families, there’s the Downtown Lafayette Movies in the Parc on Saturday at the Downtown Drive-In Parking Lot, 725 Jefferson St. “The Neverending Story” will be shown for $2 (free for children 5 and under) and food and beverages will be available on-site for purchase.
    Outdoor enthusiasts will want to paddle down Bayou Vermilion on Saturday, May 25, leaving at 8:30 a.m. at Vermilionville. Later on at 1 p.m. Saturday, Vermilionville offers its weekly Cajun jam session, so why not stay and dance! On Sunday, May 26, Vermilionville’s Bal du Dimanche (Sunday dance) features Carl Hollier and Cajun Company from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
    To honor those who have served, the Lafayette Concert Band presents “Songs of Remembrance” at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at East Bayou Baptist Church. The concert is free.

    Zydeco Extravaganza with music, food and fun begins at noon Sunday,  May 26, at the Evangeline Downs Event Center in Opelousas. The music lineup includes Keith Frank, Chris Ardoin, Geno Delafose, Brian Jack, Leon Chavis, Same Ol' 2 Step, Cupid and many more. Admission is $15 pre-sale; $20 at gate.