Mardi Gras goes to the dogs!

    We have so much fun in South Louisiana every winter during Carnival, it seems wrong to limit it to just humans.
    That’s why in addition to the many Lafayette krewes hosting Carnival balls and parades during the Carnival season, concluding on the big day of Mardi Gras (Feb. 12 this year), we have special events for our four-legged residents.
    The Krewe des Chiens — in French that means Krewe for Dogs — hosts an annual dog parade through the downtown Lafayette streets. This year’s theme for the Saturday, Feb. 2, Krewe des Chiens Parade is “Paw-rates of the Atchafalaya” and the pirate-costumed canines will parade through downtown beginning at 2 p.m.
    Like all Lafayette Carnival parades, the event is free, open to the public and perfectly suitable for families.
    And if you want to join in the parade, membership is open to all breeds, sizes and origins of dogs for $25 in advance, $35 on parade day. Visit the Krewe des Chiens Web site for details. Parade watchers are encouraged to bring dogs and dress them up as well.
    The Krewe des Chien’s mission to assist area shelters and animal aid organizations in the Acadiana area. The group has distributed nearly $20,000 to 10 Acadiana organizations!
    For a neighborhood experience, the Second Annual Pawdi Gras on the Pond dog parade and costume contest will be held in the Sugar Mill Pond subdivision of Youngsville from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3. This year’s theme is “Laissez Les Bon Chiens Rouler!” with awards given for King and Queen, most creative, best pet/owner look alike, best theme and other categories. 

Carnival Fun in Cajun/Creole Country

    And you thought the holidays were over? In Lafayette and surrounding areas, the fun keeps on going.
    Jan. 6 begins the Carnival season in Cajun and Creole Country, the 12th Night of Christmas, or Epiphany, when the Three Wise Men brought gifts to the baby Jesus. The season of Carnival continues until Mardi Gras, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which this year is Feb. 12.
    In a sense, it’s a religious holiday, created in Europe and continued in Catholic South Louisiana.
    “The Catholic Church licensed Carnival, which means ‘farewell to flesh,’ as a period of feasting before the fasting of Lent,” writes Arthur Hardy in his annual “Mardi Gras Guide.” “The Church also established the set date for the start of the Carnival season — Jan. 6, the Feast of the Epiphany — and the fluctuating date of Mardi Gras.”

    We celebrate the Epiphany by enjoying King Cakes with tiny babies inside — the person who gets the baby in their piece must host the next king cake and so it goes until Mardi Gras day! Carnival organizations called krewes host balls during the Carnival season with royalty and revelry, then parade through the streets throwing beads and trinkets. There’s even a krewe for canines, the Krewe des Chiens Parade for Dogs!
    Unique to Cajun and Creole Country is the ancient Carnival tradition of courirs, where costumed men and women on horseback travel the countryside to beg residents for ingredients to a gumbo, usually with a musical band and onlookers following behind. This tradition dates back to medieval France, including the costumes that mimic the educated and those in power. Once the courir arrives in town, a communal gumbo is cooked and enjoyed and usually there is lots of great music and dancing.
    Carnival and Mardi Gras in Lafayette is more appropriate for families, a safer and more relaxed version of the revelry found in New Orleans. Lafayette also offers Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette with rides and live music that occurs Feb. 8-12 at Cajun Field. Parking for RVs is available here as well and the parades roll right through the festival!
    For a complete schedule of activities, parade route map and answers to every question you might have about Carnival and Mardi Gras in Cajun and Creole Country, visit LafayetteTravel.com.

Gift the gift of the outdoors this holiday season

Louisiana State Arboretum

     Need something to do with the kids over the holiday vacation, a gift of experience that may last a lifetime? Try getting them outside in the wonderful state parks surrounding Lafayette.
    On Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, Chicot State Park in Ville Platte will offer a Dutch Oven Gathering from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants will join the monthly Dutch oven cooking demonstrations, to view how cooking can be done in the wild. At the nearby Louisiana State Arboretum on Dec. 22 visitors will take a hike — literally — to identify trees during the hardest time of the year, winter, beginning at 2 p.m. For more information on either event, call (888) 677-6100 or (337) 363-6289 locally.
    Also on Saturday, Dec. 22, Lake Fausse Pointe State Park near St. Martinville will offer a Sunset Hike from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to the slough lookout to catch views of deer, owls and other wildlife while the sun sets. There will also be a morning canoe tour from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park where visitors will enjoy the tranquility of calm and quiet waters while learning about the park’s history and flora and fauna along the way. Canoeing experience is recommended and space is limited, so please call for reservations. For more information call (888) 677-7200 or (337) 229-4764 locally.

    For something totally different, visit the Louisiana State Arboretum and learn about Flying Squirrels with the site naturalist from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29. Visitors will enjoy a hike to see the squirrel’s preferred habitat in the old growth forest at the Arboretum.
    For more information about Louisiana State Parks, visit http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks.

New Year’s Celebrations in Lafayette

Geno Delafose

    In South Louisiana, we know how to party so you can imagine that the New Year is brought in with a bang. Here are a few celebrations occurring this year in Lafayette and the surrounding areas.
    Zydeco extraordinaire Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie tears up the Vermilionville Performance Center on New Year’s Eve (Monday, Dec. 31, 2012) beginning at 9:30 p.m. and continuing to 12:30 a.m. at Vermilionville in Lafayette. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 and available in Vermilionville’s Gift Shop by calling (337) 233-4077.
    Grammy Award winner David Eagan performs for the New Year’s Eve crowd at Charley G’s restaurant, where a set menu and four different rounds of dinner seating will be offered. Booths in the bar are part of the reserved seating but the bar top is available on a first come, first served basis. For more information, visit http://www.charleygs.com.
    The Performing Arts Society of Acadiana (PASA) is hosting a New Year's Eve event from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, at 721 E. Kaliste Saloom Road. There will be live music by Krossfyre, food provided by local restaurants, complimentary wine, beer and frozen cosmos and a champagne toast at midnight. Cost is $100 per person. For information, call (337) 237-2787.
    Get your dancing shoes on and head over to McGee’s Landing in Henderson, about 20 minutes outside of Lafayette, for its New Year’s Eve Bash with Cajun music by Ryan Brunet, Christine Balfa and Al Berard. The music — and dancing — starts at 7 p.m. The cover charge is $10 and there will be lots of champagne.
    La Poussiere, a traditional Cajun dancehall in Breaux Bridge, presents its annual New Year's Eve Bash with Jackie Caillier, Ivy Dugas and the Cajun Cousins with special guest musicians. Tickets are $15 in advance (by Saturday, Dec. 29) and will be $20 at the door.
    New Year’s doesn’t have to mean leaving the kids at home. The Children’s Museum of Acadiana offers a New Year’s Noon Countdown & Carnival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 31 at the museum in downtown Lafayette. The cost is $6 per person and includes exhibits, confetti, cannons and prize drops. For more information, call (337) 232-8500 or visit www.cmalaf.org.

David Eagn

A Cajun & Creole Christmas — Holiday Lights

Noel Acadien au Village

    Lafayette and the surrounding cities and countryside is transformed into a winter wonderland during the holiday season with light displays everywhere.
    Here are some spots to visit throughout the entire holiday season, with a few special lighting events thrown in. For a complete list of Cajun and Creole Christmas events, visit LafayetteTravel.com.
     Christmas in Crowley Lights to Music Spectacular will be 5:30 p.m. to midnight Nov. 22-Jan. 3 at City Hall, 425 N. Parkerson in Crowley. Over 50,000 dazzling animated holiday lights are synchronized to music and you can listen to the lights by tuning in on your car radio!
     Safari of Lights is a holiday event with lights, animation and the North Pole Express train at the Zoo of Acadiana, held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 23-24 and Nov. 30-Dec. 30 at the Zoo, 5601 U.S. Hwy. 90 East in Broussard. Info: (337) 837-4325.
      Christmas in Vermilion offers a variety of holiday activities Nov. 23-Jan. 1 throughout Vermilion Parish. Admission varies. Info: (337) 898-6600. 
      Take a driving tour along a path filled with elaborate displays of Christmas lights while Christmas music enhances the drive from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 25-Dec. 31 in Kemper Williams Park in Patterson. Cost is $2 per car. Info: (985) 395-2298.
     The historic town of Franklin will offer its Walking Parade & Lamplighter Ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at the corner of Jackson and Main streets. Bring flashlights. For those who own golf carts, decorate them and participate in the parade! Info: (337) 828-3631.
     Noel Acadien au Village, a light extravaganza to support the non-profit historic village, is 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly Dec. 1-23 at LARC’s Acadian Village in Lafayette. There will be more than a half million lights, nightly entertainment, local cuisine, photos with Santa, carnival rides and items for sale. Admission is $9 at the gate, $7 in advance, with specials available on the web site. Info: (337) 981-2364.
     The 18th Annual Festival of Light, with shopping, Santa, music, food and real snow, will be 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Oil Center of Lafayette. Info: (337) 232-1267.
    Le Vieux Village’s 11th Annual Christmas Lighting will be from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the historic “village” at 828 E. Landry St. in Opelousas. In addition to the lighting ceremony, there will be Christmas music, carols sung by a choir, refreshments, a horse-drawn buggy ride and Santa. Free. Info: (337) 948-5227.

St. Lucy Festival of Light

     The Delcambre Boat Parade features decorated and lighted boats parading down the Delcambre Canal from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 8 in Delcambre. In addition, there will be gumbo and refreshments for sale. Info: (337) 898-6600.
     St. Lucy Festival of Light will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville. The free event features food, arts and crafts, musical entertainment, a 2 p.m. Christmas parade and the lighting of the Church Square at 6 p.m.
      This is only a tip of the holiday iceberg. Be sure and check out the full schedule at http://www.lafayettetravel.com/play/festivalsevents/cajun-creole-christmas.

A Cajun & Creole Christmas – Parades

     We love a parade in South Louisiana which is why there are numerous parades happening throughout the area during the holidays. The following are Christmas Parades and their starting times:
      The Breaux Bridge Christmas Parade begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, along Main Street in Breaux Bridge. Info: (337) 332-8500.
    The New Iberia Christmas Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, along Main Street in New Iberia. Info: (337) 365-1428.
     The Carencro Lions Children’s Parade begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, as part of the all-day Carencro Country Christmas festivities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carencro Community Center in Carencro. The 2 p.m. parade is part of the free event which includes family-oriented music, choirs, food and arts and craft booths.   
    The Sonic Christmas Parade is one of the oldest in Acadiana, featuring more than 20 floats, high school marching bands and the official arrival of Santa Claus to Lafayette. The fun happens from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, from downtown to the Oil Center in Lafayette. Free. Info: (337) 988-5301, ext. 232.
      The Lake Arthur Christmas Parade begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at Lake Arthur Park. Free. In addition, there will be a gumbo cook-off, lighting of the Christmas tree, Hall of Trees, visit with Santa and fireworks to close the night.
     The Christmas in the Park festivities in downtown Gueydan includes a parade from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. Come enjoy this family-style Christmas event with caroling, fun jumps, live nativity, hot chocolate, kids' activities, Santa Workshop with elves, hayride and more!
     The Delcambre Boat Parade features decorated and lighted boats parading down the Delcambre Canal from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 8 in Delcambre. In addition, there will be gumbo and refreshments for sale. Info: (337) 898-6600.
     St. Lucy Festival of Light from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville includes the KC Christmas Parade at 2 p.m. from St. Martinville High School toward Main Street, ending at Denier. The free event features food, arts and crafts, musical entertainment and the lighting of the Church Square at 6 p.m.
     The Delcambre Christmas on the Bayou Parade begins at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, along Main Street in Delcambre. The parade begins at the corner of Main Street and S. Pelloat and travels to the Delcambre Shrimp Festival Building.
     The Opelousas Children’s Christmas Parade begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, from St. Landry Catholic Church on Main Street to the Civic Center on Creswell Lane. Info: (337) 948-5227.
    For a complete list of Cajun and Creole Christmas events, visit LafayetteTravel.com.

A Cajun and Creole Christmas — Children’s Activities

    We all love the holidays, with the lights, gift-giving and special events abounding. But the holidays also mean there are kids under afoot.
    For the tykes who are out of school and looking for fun activities, there’s endless fun happening throughout Acadiana during the Cajun and Creole Christmas festivities. In addition to those occurring for the holidays, there’s the usual fun-filled children’s events, such as canoeing on Bayou Vermilion, the night hikes at Acadiana Park Nature Trails, the museums of downtown Lafayette and more.
    For a complete list of Cajun and Creole Christmas events, visit LafayetteTravel.com.
    Christmas in Crowley Lights to Music Spectacular will be 5:30 p.m. to midnight Nov. 22-Jan. 3 at City Hall, 425 N. Parkerson in Crowley. More than 50,000 animated holiday lights are synchronized to music and you can listen to the lights by tuning in on your car radio.
    An evening hike through Acadiana Park Nature Trails begins at 7 p.m. Nov. 24. Bring flashlight, long pants, walking shoes and insect repellent. $3 per person and children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required and must be made by 3 p.m. Nov. 24; call (337) 291-8448.

Acadiana Park Nature Station

    Join the Griswolds when Movies in the Parc present “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at dusk (5:30 p.m.) in Parc International of downtown Lafayette. Cost is $2, free for kids 5 and under. Bring blankets, snacks and more and enjoy a holiday classic. Info: (337) 291-5566.
       The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra performs Christmas songs and classical selections as part of its “Sounds of the Season with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra” at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 25 at St. Peters Catholic Church, 108 E St. Peter St. in New Iberia. Free. Info: (337) 364-1603.
    The Acadiana Center for the Arts presents the award-winning Playing By Air, a fusion of music, juggling and circus in which traditional theatricality meets absurd comedy, at 7 p.m. Nov. 27 & 28.
     Safari of Lights is a holiday event with lights, animation and the North Pole Express train at the Zoo of Acadiana, held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 30-Dec. 30 at the Zoo, 5601 US Hwy. 90 East in Broussard. Info: (337) 837-4325.

Movies in the Parc

     The Children’s Museum of Acadiana offers its Candy Cane Lane exhibit from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 1-Feb. 28 at the museum in downtown Lafayette. Visitors will be transported to a place full of holiday cheer and imagination where they can play in Santa’s Workshop, dress up as elves’ and visit a holiday village. Info: (337) 232-8500.
    Noel Acadien au Village, a light extravaganza to support the non-profit historic village, is 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly Dec. 1-23 at LARC’s Acadian Village in Lafayette. There will be more than a half million lights, nightly entertainment, local cuisine, photos with Santa, carnival rides and items for sale. Info: (337) 981-2364.
    The 18th Annual Festival of Light, with shopping, Santa, music, food and real snow, will be 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Oil Center of Lafayette. Info: (337) 232-1267, www.theoilcenter.com
    Le Vieux Village’s 11th Annual Christmas Lighting will be from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the historic “village” at 828 E. Landry St. in Opelousas. In addition to the lighting ceremony, there will be Christmas music, carols sung by a choir, refreshments, a horse-drawn buggy ride and Santa. Free. Info: (337) 948-5227.
    Get outside for a canoe paddle up Bayou Vermilion beginning at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 8. Cost is $5 or bring your own canoe or kayak and paddle for free. RSVP in advance by calling (337) 233-4077, Ext 205.
    Take a hike Dec. 8 at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park and learn about the different plants and animals in the park and how they've been historically utilized by the Chitimacha, Acadians and Creoles for food, shelter and medicine. Info: (888) 677-7200.
    Yuletide on the Bayou, a Gingerbread House competition among Girl Scouts, will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 8, at Boulingy Plaza, 102 W Main St. in New Iberia. Info: (337) 369-2330.
     Old-Time Christmas at Vermilionville will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 11-20 and include Papa Noël, demonstrations on how to make wax candles, citrus pomanders and soap, a Christmas sing-a-long and a reading of “A Cajun Night before Christmas.”
    Learn about bousillage, a mixture of mud and Spanish moss used in Acadian and Creole home building, at 11 a.m. Dec. 15 at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park. Guests will learn the basics of bousillage and create their own sculptures out of bousillage to take home. Info: (888) 677-7200.
    A Christmas Celebration will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at Vermilionville with a hands-on family cooking class, decorating workshop where kids use natural and traditional items to make decorations, Christmas caroling in the village and a cookie decorating contest.

New Year's Noon Countdown and Carnival

    Christmas parades in Acadiana include the Sonic Christmas Parade through Lafayette from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2; Lake Arthur Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 8; Delcambre Boat Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 8; St. Lucy Festival of Light and KC Christmas Parade from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (parade at 2 p.m.) Dec. 9 in St. Martinville and the Opelousas Children’s Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. Dec. 13.
    For New Year’s, the Children’s Museum of Acadiana offers a New Year’s Noon Countdown & Carnival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 31 at the museum in downtown Lafayette. The cost is $6 per person and includes exhibits, confetti, cannons and prize drops. Info: (337) 232-8500.
    For a complete list of holiday events, visit http://www.lafayettetravel.com/play/festivalsevents/cajun-creole-christmas.