Upcoming Events: The What, Where and When for March

1. Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week. Building on a 20-year foundation, the Louisiana Folk Roots team presents the unique and important Balfa Week. Classes, band labs, workshops, meals and evening dances are scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, through Friday, March 22. Onsite kayaking and local cultural excursions will be available throughout the week. Monday, March 20 – Sunday, March 26. Lakeview Park & Beach, 1717 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Eunice. LAFolkRoots.org.

2. Celtic Bayou Festival. This festival focuses on preserving and celebrating all aspects of Irish, Irish-American and other Celtic cultures while instilling an appreciation of this heritage in current and future generations. An annual, family friendly event, Celtic Bayou Festival is held in the heart of Cajun country and features a pub crawl, Irish whiskey tasting, Guinness cook-off, Bailey’s bake-off, live music, children’s area and more. Friday and Saturday, March 15 – 16 at noon. Hideaway on Lee, 407 Lee Ave., Lafayette. CelticBayouFestival.com

3. 36th Annual World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook Off. Taste with your eyes, ears and dancing feet the flavors of your favorite headline bands, your favorite etouffee, beautiful arts and crafts and more. Teams compete to see who can cook the best crawfish etouffee (smothered crawfish). Celebrity and professional judges proclaim winners in three categories: Amateur, Professional and Club/Organization. Teams also vie for People’s Choice and the Best Decorated Booth. The Cook-Off Kick-Off Dance will be held on Saturday, March 25 from 8 p.m. – midnight in The Barn at Lakeview Park & Beach, 1717 Veterans Memorial Hwy, Eunice. The cookoff features free admission and free parking. Sunday, March 26 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Northwest Pavilion, 438 Samuel Drive, Eunice. EtouffeeCookoff.org.

4. Patty in the Parc. Patty In The Parc is an annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration located in Downtown Lafayette at Parc International. Every year Patty In The Parc provides top notch entertainment as well as great food and drinks making it the St. Patrick’s Day destination for you and your crew. Sunday, March 17 at 5:30 p.m. Parc International, Downtown Lafayette. Facebook.com/PattyInTheParc.

March 1

DTA! LVVRS

What: Come out for the exciting kick-off of this year’s Downtown Alive!’s “First Friday” Series.

DTA! will welcome LVVRS for an electrifying evening of music in Parc Sans Souci for their DTA! debut. The entire community is invited to enjoy free, live music at Downtown Alive! in the heart of Downtown Lafayette. Please leave ice chests at home and help keep DTA! free by grabbing a drink from the beverage tent and a bite to eat from food vendors. Downtown Alive! and Evangeline Maid merch will also be available for purchase at every DTA!

Where: Parc Sans Souci, Downtown Lafayette

When: Friday from 6 – 8:30 p.m.

Details: DowntownLafayette.org

March 2 – 30

Lafayette Farmers & Artisans Market

What: Come out to the horse farm every Saturday rain or shine for some of the best homegrown goods in Lafayette.

Where: Moncus Park, 2913 Johnston St., Lafayette

When: Saturdays from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Details: MarketAtMoncusPark.com

March 2 – 30

Cajun Jam

What: Vermilionville’s weekly Cajun Jam is led by some of the area’s finest musicians. The free jam is held in the Performance Center of Vermilionville Living Museum & Folklife Park and is open to all skill levels-beginner to professional. Admission is free but does not include entry to the park.

Where: Vermilionville, 300 Fisher Road, Lafayette

When: Saturdays from 1 – 3 p.m.

Details: Vermilionville.org or 337-233-4077

March 2 – 30

Agora Open Air Market

What: This market features local vendors and will be taking place every Saturday across from the Lafayette Public Library. If you’re interested in getting involved with Agora Market, please email lafayetteagora@gmail.com.

Where: 720 Lafayette St., Lafayette

When: Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Details: DowntownLafayette.org

March 2 – 30

Teche Area Farmers Market

What: Experience our harvest of delicious, locally grown produce and homemade products by

area farmers, artists and crafters. Also included are handcrafted cypress yard objects, bread

and fresh baked goods, ceramics, honey, jellies, jams, herbs, candies, wooden bowls and

utensils, birdhouses, garden benches and much more.

Where: Bouligny Plaza, 102 W. Main St., New Iberia

When: Every Tuesday 2:30 – 6 p.m. and Saturday 7 – 11 a.m.

Details: 337-369-2330 or Facebook.com/TecheAreaFestivalandFarmersMarket

Admission: Free

March 3 – 31

Bal du Dimanche

What: Bayou Vermilion District & Vermilionville host the Bal du Dimanche (Sunday Dance) every week. This live music series is held in Vermilionville’s Performance Center and rustic dancehall. Admission includes a self-guided tour of the Vermilionville Living History museum.

Where: Vermilionville’s Performance Center, 300 Fisher Road, Lafayette.

When: Sundays, 1 – 4 p.m.

Details: Vermilionville.org or 337-233-4077

Admission: $10

March 3 – 31

Bourré at The Brewery

What: Each week, the brewery hosts a front porch jam session, a French table, and a friendly game of Bourré. Bourré is a popular card game in South Louisiana. It’s a trick-taking game, similar to Spades. If you don’t know how to play, the locals will be happy to show you.

Where: Bayou Teche Brewing, 1002 Noth Lane, Arnaudville

When: Sundays from 2 – 5 p.m.

Details: BayouTecheBrewing.com or 337-754-5122

March 7

AcA & Lafayette Comedy’s Comedy Club Series: Paula Poundstone

What: Iconic comedian known for her smart, observational humor and legendary spontaneous wit. Paula Poundstone is the star of several HBO specials, including Cats, Cops and Stuff, and Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard. Paula is a regular panelist on NPR’s comedy news quiz, “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” She is heard weekly on her successful comedy podcast. Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone. Paula was the first female comic in its then 73rd year to perform standup at the White House Correspondents Dinner.

Where: Acadiana Center for the Arts, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette

When: Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Details: AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org

March 7 – 28

Bayou Teche French Table

What: Celebrate the Cajun Culture and improve your French speaking skills regardless of your level of French. Additionally, enjoy conversations with francophones and francophiles who visit New Iberia from all over the world as well as students in the French Immersion setting at North Lewis Elementary. Vive le francais!

Where: Cane River Pecan Company – Pie Bar, 254 W. Main St., New Iberia

McDonald’s, 1501 Center St., New Iberia

When: Thursdays from 8 – 10 a.m.

Details: 337-519-7942

March 9

Cajun Comic Relief

What: Enjoy a night stand-up comedy from local comedians.

Where: Heymann Performing Arts Center

When: Saturday at 2 & 7 p.m.

Details: HeymannCenter.com

March 9

Second Saturday ArtWalk

What: The monthly event occurs every second Saturday, and features exhibits, live music, theatrical performances, and immersive artistic experiences in the shops, galleries, museums, and streets of Downtown Lafayette.

Where: Downtown Lafayette

When: Saturday from 6 – 8 p.m.

Details: DowntownLafayette.org

March 9 – 16

Shadows-On-The-Teche Plein Air Painting Competition.

What: Plein air painters will be outdoors in the Shadows-on-the-Teche gardens, along Main Street, on Avery Island and other areas around Acadiana for visitors to view. Free paint-out, art exhibit, awards ceremony, and silent auction. Paintings will be on display and available for purchase throughout competition week in the Shadows Visitor Center across the street from the Shadows.

Where: Shadows-on-the-Teche, 317 E. Main St., New Iberia

When: Saturday to Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Details: ShadowsOnTheTeche.org.

March 14

AcA LA Crossroads: Shardé Thomas

What: Experience the soul-stirring magic of Shardé Thomas in an unforgettable night of Delta blues. Her raw, hypnotic melodies and electrifying fife and drum performance will transport you to the heart of Mississippi’s musical roots.

Where: Acadiana Center for the Arts, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette

When: Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Details: AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org

March 17

AcA & ASO’s Listening Room Chamber Music Series: Alexander Hülshoff

What: German cellist Alexander Hülshoff leads ASO Chamber Ensemble in a concert featuring works by iconic Central European composers, Bach and Schubert, whose music continues to shape modern Western music.

Where: Acadiana Center for the Arts, 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette

When: Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Details: AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org

March 20

Les Cadiens Du Teche Cajun Dance

What: Les Cadiens du Teche (Cajun French Music Association) dance to Cajun music with a meal, door prizes, cake walk, 50/50 and camaraderie, at their monthly public meeting.

Where: La Louisiane Banquet Hall, 5509 Hwy. 14, New Iberia

When: Every third Wednesday of the month from 7 – 9:30 p.m.

Details: Facebook.com/LesCadiensDuTeche or 337-258-1876

March 25

Les Vues Film Series

What: Les Vues is a free monthly film series curated by filmmakers and enthusiasts, mostly from around the state. The films will range from features, documentaries, student film, shorts, animation, etc., that focus on the themes surrounding cultures. Les Vues free film series will continue the last Monday evening of each month at 6:30 PM.

Where: Vermilionville, 300 Fisher Road, Lafayette.

When: Monday at 6:30 p.m.

Details: BayouVermilionDistrict.org

March 26

Marine Corps League Monthly Meeting

What: The General W.S. McIlhenny Detachment of the Marine Corps League invites all active Marines and Marine veterans to attend the group’s monthly meeting.

Where: Veterans Memorial Building in New Iberia’s City Park

When: Fourth Tuesday of each month starting at 7 p.m.

Details: 337–967–3650

March 30

Holi Festival

What: Lafayette Holi Festival started in 2011, brings Holi to Acadiana, the heart of the Cajun country. Holi (होली), is a religious festival celebrated by Hindus in early Spring. This “Festival of Colors” shares many similarities with Easter…but instead of dying eggs, participants are the ones getting a dash of color.

Where: Girard Park, 500 Girard Park Drive, Lafayette

When: Sunday at 11 a.m.

Details: LafayetteHoli.org