Events

2024 Annual Events

There’s always something to do in Iberia Parish! Check out the annual events scheduled for 2024 and make plans to attend with your krewe.

March 9-16

Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Painting Competition

See plein air painters on the grounds of some of Iberia Parish’s most beautiful locations. The closing award ceremony, art exhibit and silent auction are open to the public.

shadowsontheteche.org/plein-air-painting

March 22-23

St. Jude Chili Cook-off

Come to the St. Jude Fundraiser Chili Cook-off where more than 40 teams will participate. There will also be a live auction and entertainment, face painting, fun jumps and more. Bring your own ice chest for $20 fee.

March 29-31

Lao New Year

Lanexang Village celebrates the Lao New Year every Easter weekend with a three-day festival that includes live music, a beauty pageant, parades, sand castle building, kids activities and vendors selling clothes, jewelry, music and food from Southeast Asia.

facebook.com/LouisianaLaoNewYear

April 5-7

Books Along the Teche Literary Festival

Literary Festival with a focus on Great Southern Writers, highlighting Iberia Parish authors and others who write about the unique culture of Louisiana. Events include cooking demonstrations, workshops on writing, book fair, academic symposiums, receptions, poetry, music, live oak walk, movie screenings, children’s activities, readers theater and more. The 2024 festival will mark the unveiling of a statue of artist James Lee Burke.

Booksalongthetecheliteraryfestival.com

April 7

Symphony Sunday in the Park

The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra will perform under the oaks of New Iberia City Park at this free outdoor concert – a great way to wrap up your Books Along the Literary Festival weekend.

iberiacultural.com

April 19-21

El Festival Espanol de Nueva Iberia

New Iberia was founded by the Spanish, and this lively festival is a celebration of just that. Festival goers will enjoy a paella, tapas and jambalaya cookoff, parade, Spanish dance lessons, live music and so much more.

newiberiaspanishfestival.com

May 27

Memorial Day Ceremony

This celebration commemorates all of the fallen soldiers with a flag ceremony, 21 gun salute and a harmony of patriotic music. The free event is held in Bouligny Plaza from 6-8 p.m.

iberiatravel.com

June 30

Stars & Stripes – A Musical Celebration

Presented by the Iberia Cultural Resource Association and held in the Sugar Cane Festival Building, this free concert by the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra features patriotic and WWII-era music to honor veterans.

Iberiacultural.com

August 9

Best of the Teche

Each year, The Daily Iberian announces the results of its popular Best of the Teche competition at a gala event. Based on readers’ votes for “best” in several categories, winners are announced at a gathering of nominees and an evening of great food and live entertainment.

thedailyiberian.com

August 14-18

Delcambre Shrimp Festival

In honor of the shrimping industry, this 5-day event includes a shrimp cook off, queens’ pageant, fais-do-do, carnival rides, boat parade and live entertainment.

shrimpfestival.net

September 26-29

Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival

Kicking off with the Shadows-on-the-Teche Farm Fest, this historic festival is packed with events honoring the sugar cane industry with parades, carnival, live Cajun and Zydeco music, a car show, sugar cookery, competitions, pageantry and more.

hisugar.org

October 4-6

Tour du Teche Canoe Race

Iberia Parish is along the route of this 135-mile cane kayak and pirogue race on the Bayou Teche, featuring nightly festivals at each stop.

tourduteche.com

October 12

Shadows Arts & Crafts Fair

More than 100 vendors from around Louisiana showcase their diverse handmade items from fine art to food and furniture. All against the backdrop of the beautiful Shadows-on-the-Teche.

shadowsontheteche.org

October 12-13

World Championship Gumbo Cookoff

Held in historic downtown New Iberia, the lively event includes a Gumbo Cookoff, Roux Run, Youth Gumbo Cookoff, Meanest Beans Competition, children’s activities, live music and incredible food.

iberiachamber.org

October 20

Beneath the Balconies

This delightful series of theatrical presentations and musical performances on select balconies along New Iberia’s award-winning Main Street has become a much-anticipated annual event.

facebook.com/nibeneaththebalconies

October 26

New Iberia Halloween Parade

New Iberia has claimed the holiday of Halloween as its own. The event begins in front of city hall where the fountain will be dyed black before the parade rolls down Main Street for Halloween. The parade will begin at Prairie Street and end at Railroad Street.

facebook.com/CityofNewIberia

November 11

Veterans Day Memorial Celebration

Held in New Iberia’s Bouligny Plaza, this patriotic ceremony honors veterans with proclamations, a 21-gun salute, flag raising ceremony and a prayer service.

iberiatravel.com

November 24

Sounds of the Season

Usher in the holiday season with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra At this free Christmas concert at St. Peter Catholic Church in New Iberia.

iberiacultural.com

December 14

Very Berry Christmas Quest

The Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with local businesses, hosts a family scavenger hunt to celebrate the Christmas season in Iberia Parish. Families pick up goody bags filled with coupons and holiday treats at the chamber’s office, along with their quest cards which track the activities they participate in throughout the day. Families collect stickers on their cards to be entered in a drawing to win prizes.

iberiachamber.org

December 14

Queen City Christmas Parade

Gather along Main Street to see festively decorated vehicles, Berry Queens, Grand Marshals, local dance schools, marching bands, visiting royalty and Santa and Mrs. Claus!

bayoutraditions.com