Fall can be a busy time of the year. Once the weather starts cooling off (just a LITTLE bit), you tend to want to spend more time out and about. Plus, organizations are getting you ready for the fall and winter holidays with many fun activities.
Well, we know you’re busy trying to keep up with all of it, so we wanted to help you out. We’ve created a list of the major festivals and events happening in Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas for fall 2019! Bookmark this page to hang onto it or check back for updates.
For more information on any of the following events, click on the red title name.
September 2019
September 5 – October 24
Rock N Rowe
Now until October 24, you can get out to Perkins Rowe every Thursday night for a jamming free concert. Rock out on the Rowe starting at 6:00 pm.
Google Map
September 14
Ponchatoula Art & Wine Stroll
If you love wine and art, then here ya go! The family friendly event takes place in downtown Ponchatoula. You’ll be able to wander around while sipping wine and checking out the local shops, artists and tunes. There will be face painting, cotton candy and popcorn for the kids (or the kid in you.) For more information, call the Chamber office at 985-386-2536.
Admission Bracelets: $20.00 ( Must be 21 or over to participate in our wine tasting).
Google Map
September 20 – 22
St. Tammany Crab Festival
Crab lovers can get their fill when the St. Tammany Crab Festival returns to Slidell’s Heritage Park. The fest features three days live music, food and festival fun. Indulge in local cuisine centered around crab dishes and other indigenous foods from Southeast Louisiana. Festival-goers can also enjoy carnival rides, a vintage car show and a scenic boat tour of Bayou Bonfouca. One-day passes cost $20 in advance or for $25 at the gate. Three-day festival passes can be purchased online only, in advance, for $40. Kids ages 12 and under enter free.
Google Map
September 20 – 22
National Fried Chicken Festival
The National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans features local and national food vendors frying traditional and creative dishes at Woldenberg Riverfront Park. Organizers announced plans to expand the fest to three days in 2019. The fest will also feature music from local artists including Choppa, DJ Jubilee and a first-ever “WhoDat Playlist” performance. Vendors will also battle to get crowned during the best fried chicken contest. Admission is free.
Google Map
September 26 – 29
Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival
Celebrate the Louisiana sugar cane industry with parades, a carnival, live Cajun and Zydeco music, a car show, sugar cookery, photography and artistry competitions, a horticulture show, pageantry and more. Free to the public. Starts at 3:00 PM ends 11:30 PM.
Google Map
September 27 – 28
Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival
The Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival features a slate of blues entertainers each year. Performing in 2019 will be Paul Thorn, Mia Borders, the Honey Island Swamp Band, among others. Ticket prices vary.
Google Map
September 27 – 29
Ascension Parish Hot Air Balloon Festival
The 2019 Ascension Hot Air Balloon Festival returns to Gonzales at the end of September with three days of balloons, bands, boucherie and so much more! Gather up your family and head down to Lamar Dixon Expo Center Sept. 27-29 for fun in the heart of Ascension Parish. You can get into the festival on Friday 4:30 PM – 11:00 PM, Saturday 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM and Sunday 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 for adults, free for children 8 and under.
Google Map
September 28 – October 6
Red River Revel Arts Festival
Red River Revel is one of Louisiana’s oldest, largest and most celebrated festivals. Spanning nine days and showcasing local and national visual and performing artists, the Revel is an award-winning festival each fall. From auditory to hands-on, music & performing, to visual arts, there is something for everyone. Opening and closing times vary per day.
Google Map
September 28
8th Annual Bayou Vermilion Festival & Boat Parade
This may be the biggest bayou fest in Acadiana. This year, the organizers expanded the event’s kayak and canoe paddle route! Warm up with yoga at 8:00 am and launch off into the water before lunch. Festivities kick-off on the grounds of Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park. The event begins at 8:00 am, parade sets sail at 11:30 am and the festival closes down at 7:30 pm.
October 2019
October 4
Brew at the Zoo
The Baton Rouge Zoo will celebrate their 6th Annual Brew at the Zoo on Friday, October 4. Guests aged 21 and older are invited to the Zoo for an evening of food and beer tasting, live music and more. Party-goers will be able to sample dozens of craft beers and munch on pub favorites. Plus, show off your “safari chic” style. General admission tickets start at $50, but designated drivers receive a significant discount. General admission enter at 7:00 pm. The whole event closes down at 10:00 pm.
October 4 – November 8
Live After Five
The Downtown Business Association hosts Live After Five each year to bring nearly 100,000 attendees together for free live music. With two concert seasons a year, you can expect to see performers like Parish County Line and Chee Weez as part of this fall’s lineup. The concerts are held every Friday in downtown Baton Rouge. The fun gets started at 5 p.m. and continues until 8 p.m.
Google Map
October 5
Denham Springs Fall Festival
Join the family atmosphere in Downtown Denham Springs at the annual fall festival. Over 150 vendor booths line up in the middle of Range Avenue to sell antiques, art, greenery, crafts and many more items. There will be plenty of finger-licking foods such as jambalaya, hamburgers and funnel cakes. Stroll down Mattie Street a.k.a. “Art Avenue” and hear live music at Train Station Park. All of the stores will be open in the village with many sales, so go and enjoy the day in the Antique Village.
Google Maps
October 5 – 26
Corn Maze
Experience LSU Ag Center’s corn maze and botanic gardens. Also, expect farm animals, pumpkin decorating, face painting, a children’s zip line, giant sling shots, a hay mountain and, of course, hay rides. Admission is $10 per person and free for children 3 and under. Friends of the Gardens family memberships receive 4 free admissions. Get in every Saturday in October from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Google Maps
October 6 – November 10
Sunday in the Park
The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge welcomes the Sunday in the Park concert series for fall 2019. See these artists from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The musical gatherings provide an opportunity to celebrate community. In addition to featured musical talent, other activities include face painting, balloon art and more.
Google Maps
October 6 -27
Angola Prison Rodeo
The Angola Prison Rodeo returns every Sunday in October this fall. You can look forward to barrel racing, wild horse racing, bull riding, chariot racing and wild cow milking. Of course, you can enjoy the rodeo atmosphere and the arts and crafts fair, too. Get your tickets for $20 per person to get in on Oct.6, 13, 20 or 27.
Google Maps
October 11 – 13
Festivals Acadiens et Creoles
Creole culture is celebrated like never before during this festival in Lafayette. There will be live music, food demos, a bayou food festival and much more. There’s even a ceremonial “Cutting of the Boudin” and a “Tour Des Atakapas Duathlon.” The fest starts Friday, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m. with the official Cutting of the Boudin and goes until 9 p.m. Saturday hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Stop by the free festival at Girard Park in Lafayette, La.
Google Maps
October 18 – 27
Fifolet Halloween Festival
The Fifolet Halloween Festival is a week-long celebration of all things Halloween in Baton Rouge, LA. Find your treasure at the Fifolet, where there’s Halloween fun for everyone! Some of the events include a Zombie Pub Crawl, the Baton Rouge Halloween Parade and a horror movie trivia night. Click here to learn more about the events a part of the week-long event.
October 19
Boo Bayou Fall Festival
Coloring, costumes, cooking and, of course, trick-or-treating are happening at this fall festival in Vermilionville. Kids will have an opportunity to display their creative abilities by decorating their very own trick-or-treat bags, on-site. Plus, the event gets ever sweeter with cookie decorating activities. The event is fun for the whole family. Admission is $5 for ages 2 and older.
Google Map
October 19
Baton Rouge Halloween Parade
This Halloween-themed parade rolls throughout downtown Baton Rouge starting at 4:00 pm. Parading krewes, dancers and bands entertain the crowd with incredible costumes and candy throws. Don’t forget to dress in costume and bring nonperishable food donations for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. The food bank truck will lead the parade and actively take donations straight from the crowd! The parade route begins at the end of Government Street and finishes on the corner of Laurel Street and River Road.
October 19
Hammond Horror Festival
This is Hammond’s annual alternative arts festival! Theatre, film, dance, visual and performing arts of all kinds come together just before Halloween to thrill and chill your appetite for delight. This year’s event is free to the public and is located at Gnarly Barley Brewing. Buy craft brews (if you’re of-age) and sit down to watch short film premieres. The event’s 48-Hour Film Fest will show on a big screen and you’ll be able to vote for your favorite one. Also, local vendors will be on-site selling spooky crafts.
Google Maps
October 19 – 26
Boo at the Zoo
The zoo invites participants to Boo at the Zoo, a merry-not-scary trick-or-treating extravaganza. Participants should wear their best costumes and visit treat stations throughout the zoo, or wander through the merry-not-scary Hay Maze and Enchanted Swamp. Regular Zoo admission applies. Admission gates open 9:30 am – 4:00 pm. Grounds close at 5pm. Stop by Oct. 19, 20, 25 and 26.
Google Maps
October 20
French Settlement Creole Festival
The French Settlement Historical Society brings back this annual event with great food and live music. It kicks off at 10:00 am behind the town hall. The party shuts down around 5:00 pm.
Google Maps
October 24 – November 3
Baton Rouge State Fair
Google Map
October 24 – November 10
State Fair of Louisiana
The official State Fair of Louisiana will be held once again in Shreveport. It offers the largest livestock shows and carnival in the state. There will be rides, free daily circus shows, live entertainment, fair food and much more. Carnival weekdays hours are 12 noon until close and weekends 10 a.m. until close. Admission varies each day.
Google Maps
October 26
Night Maze
You can visit the LSU Ag Center corn maze during the day. Or, get a little extra spooky by going through at night. The night maze includes farm animals and a hay mountain, as well. But, it also has evening bonfires with s’mores and live music. Get in on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Admission is $10 per person and free for children 3 and under.
Google Maps
See also: 2019 Halloween events in the Baton Rouge area 👻
November 2019
November 1 – 3
Louisiana Pecan Festival
The Louisiana Pecan Festival takes place on the first full weekend of November in Colfax. There will be great food and live music. The weekend kicks off with Children’s Day, that includes a petting zoo, fun jumps and rock walls. All you have to do is show up because it’s free to the public. There will even be a grand parade and fireworks show on Saturday.
Google Maps
November 2 – December 8
Louisiana Renaissance Festival
The Louisiana Renaissance Festival is many things: theme park, theatre, holiday shopping destination and educational experiences — all rolled into many awesome adventures! Every autumn the fest creates the English “Village of Albright,” in Tangipahoa Parish with more than 600 artisans, entertainers and educational demonstrations welcoming you to the best parts of the 16th century. Dress up and choose from dozens of Professional Performers, more than 50 shows, and a plethora of demonstrations every day on a dozen stages. Search a hundred booths for unique handmade creations. The rain or shine event happens every weekend from Nov. 2 through Dec. 8, opening at 9:45 pm and shutting down at 5:00 pm.
Google Maps
November 3
Cap City Beer Fest
Cap City Beer Fest is a dog-friendly beer tasting event that brings regional, national and international craft beers to Downtown Baton Rouge. Get your tickets early – they will be $10 more more at the door! Must be 21 or older with ID to participate. Your ticket purchase supports Companion Animal Alliance and gives lost and abandoned animals in the East Baton Rouge Parish a second chance at finding a forever home. You only need to purchase a ticket if you plan to partake in the beer sampling. Entry to the festival is otherwise free of charge and family friendly.
Google Maps
November 15
Starry November Night
The Hammond Downtown Development District will host the annual Starry November Night. The signature community event will feature holiday themed festivities, a Wine and Cheese Walk throughout downtown businesses and a holiday-filled kid zone. Starry November Night will take place on Friday, November 15, 2019, from 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm and is open to the public free of charge.
November 22
White Lights Night – Mid City
Baton Rouge’s annual celebration of arts is lighting up Mid City on November 22. There will be live music, food and drinks and wonderful local artists taking over the streets. The free event starts at 6:00 pm. If you need a ride along the route, transportation is free, as well. The shuttle service will take you up and down the festival between Jefferson Highway at Goodwood Boulevard and the intersection of Government and 14th streets. Get out there to socialize and unwind.
November 30
Bayou Classic
The annual showdown between the Southern University Jaguars and the Grambling State University Tigers gives fans plenty of festivities surrounding Thanksgiving weekend. The tradition culminates with the Bayou Classic football matchup Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Other notable events include the parade, fan festival and Friday’s Battle of the Bands.
Google Maps
Did we miss your favorite fall festival or event? Let us know here.
