Welcome to Lafayette — the heart of Cajun and Creole Country, the cultural center of Louisiana's heritage, the “Happiest City in America,” “Tastiest Town of the South” and a “Top Music Mecca.”
Here you'll discover the rich history of how diverse cultures came together, creating unique art and architecture, music and dance, food and celebrations and a joie de vivre that has influenced the lives of everyone in our state and made an impact on the entire world.
Lafayette is home to many festivals happening year-round such as Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, Courir de Mardi Gras, and Festival International de Louisiane, the largest international music and arts festival in the United States.
List of festivals
Beyond good food and good times, Lafayette is known for its preeminent high-tech infrastructure, such as a publicly owned fiber optic loop, and the high-tech companies who have made it their home.
Lafayette has always been known for its role in the oil and gas industry. Today it has diversified its economy by becoming a leader in technology, energy services, health care, transportation, finance, entertainment, and retail.
Explore business & retail
Festival International de Louisiane is the largest international music and arts festival in the United States. The annual five-day festival transforms downtown Lafayette with seven stages of music, endless food options, and art from around the world. And best of all, it's free!
Big-name acts, fast-paced sports, and local celebrations can be found at the Cajundome & Convention Center. Home to Ragin' Cajuns basketball, this arena hosts sporting events, large concerts, performances, Mardi Gras balls, and conventions.
The annual Southern Screen Film Festival brings together emerging filmmakers, artists, and actors for multiple days of short- and feature-film screenings, workshops, and networking.
Lafayette's biggest display of Louisiana French music and culture happens next to campus every fall in Girard Park. UL Lafayette's Center for Louisiana Studies, traditional music ensembles, and the Hilliard Art Museum all help put on this four-day, five-stage festival.
Expedia ranked Lafayette, La., among the country’s “Most Artistic Towns,” in part because of UL Lafayette’s involvement in the cultural community and performances from our School of Music and Performing Arts.
“USA Today” editors nominated 20 cities for its 10 Best Reader’s Choice contest for Best College Town Weekend — and Lafayette, La., was voted No. 1.
ConventionSouth Magazine named our city a hip, historic college town in the South.