Come have a sweet ole time on Sunday, October 2nd, 2022 from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM This annual sweet celebration of the sugar cane harvest has been growing strong since 1995.
SugarFest provides visitors of all ages with a free opportunity to learn about local culture, music, and history with a variety of folk art and occupational craft demonstrations, a peek inside museum exhibits and historic buildings, cane cutting and grinding demonstrations, cane syrup boiling, and live music. Genres featured include Blues, Dixieland Jazz, Folk, Cajun, Zydeco, and Bluegrass. Some of the demonstrations include praline candy making, blacksmithing, bousillage making, wood working with antique hand tools, spinning, Cajun and Zydeco dance lessons, and much more. There will be old-fashioned pastimes for children to enjoy and a designated area for Café Français where only French is spoken and lively games of Bourré will be played. Food and drink will be available for purchase, and artists will be selling their wares. Of course, there will be lots of sugary treats, fresh chewing cane samples, and for those age 21 and over, a rum tasting and discussion on how this spirit is made from Louisiana’s sweetest cash crop.
Festival goers will be entertained by renowned musicians including: Kenny Neal, Lil Ray Neal, Henry Turner. Jr., Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe, Storyville Stompers, Cajun Roots, Cane Grinders, Country Cajuns, Ethos of Izba, Dorothy LeBlanc, Judy Whitney Davis, Kitchen Sessions, Lagniappe Dulcimer Society, West Baton Rouge Oasis Jazz Band, and Blues After School Band. There will also be dance performances by Louisiane Vintage Dancers and Les Danseurs de la Capitale as well as Cajun and Zydeco dance lessons presented by Belle Heritage.
SugarFest has been designated as part of Le Grand Reveil Acadien 2022 festivities. GRA 2022 is a multi-parish experience celebrating the lasting cultural impact of the Acadian people. The purpose of this event is to encourage Acadians from around the world to continue to advance our unique lifestyle through shared memories, French speaking events, bonding and fellowship over Cajun food and music, and the general celebration of our shared culture.
SugarFest is FREE and open to the public and is supported in part by a Rebirth Grant from the Louisiana Endowment for Humanities. Hope to see you there, SUGAR!