LOUISIANA FOLKLIFE VILLAGE

Like its signature dish, gumbo, Louisiana is a spicy stew comprised of many distinctive elements: African- American, Cajun, Creole, Latin, French, Isleño, Native American, and practically everything in between. To experience this unique culture firsthand, step into the Louisiana Folklife Village and discover many of the state’s generations-old traditions - and some emerging ones, too!

Here you can see musicians meticulously handcraft accordions and fiddles, artists create elaborate sculptures for Mardi Gras floats, and a Creole cook grind sassafras leaves into filé for gumbo. Learn the art of shoe repair, how to braid horsehair, or cook up an Isleño cure for the flu. These are only a few of the dozens of traditions featured in the Louisiana Folklife Village that bear witness to our state's unique cultural history.

This year, we tip our hats to the Festival’s country music influences by featuring a new tent in the Folklife Village: Les Cowboys de la Louisiane: Cowboy Culture in Louisiana. This tent will be featured during weekend one.