Louisiana knows how to throw a party like nowhere else in America. From the bayous to the city streets, festivals here celebrate everything from food and music to legendary creatures and wild traditions.
Tourists flock to these events not just for the fun, but for the unforgettable, quirky moments that make perfect photos and even better memories.
1. Mardi Gras Indian Suiting Up
Imagine spending an entire year creating a single outfit. That’s exactly what Mardi Gras Indians do with their spectacular suits.
These aren’t just costumes, they’re masterpieces. Every bead, feather, and sequin is hand-sewn with incredible precision and cultural pride. The colors explode in photographs, making every angle a work of art.
When you capture a Mardi Gras Indian in full regalia during Super Sunday or Mardi Gras, you’re photographing history, tradition, and dedication. The sheer scale and detail of these suits create images that tourists treasure forever, showcasing New Orleans’ unique cultural heritage.
2. Greasy Pig Contest Chaos
Few festival moments generate more laughter than watching people chase a pig covered in grease. At Mansura’s Cochon de Lait Festival, this hilarious tradition turns contestants into mud-covered comedy gold.
Kids and adults alike slip, slide, and tumble while the slippery pig outsmarts them at every turn. Mud flies everywhere, creating action-packed photo opportunities that capture pure joy and chaos.
Your camera will catch genuine expressions of determination, surprise, and belly-laughing fun. This uniquely Louisiana spectacle makes for photos that friends back home simply won’t believe until they see them.
3. Decorated Shrimp Boats Blessing
Fishing boats transform into floating gardens during the Blessing of the Fleet ceremonies in coastal towns like Chauvin and Morgan City. Captains deck their vessels from bow to stern in brilliant colors, creating a photographer’s paradise.
Flags flutter in the Gulf breeze while flowers and streamers cascade down the sides. Priests bless each boat for safety and bountiful catches in the coming season.
The combination of maritime tradition, vibrant decoration, and spiritual ceremony creates stunning waterfront images. Tourists love capturing this unique blend of Louisiana’s fishing heritage and Catholic faith against beautiful coastal backdrops.
4. Nutria Skinning And Frog Races
Only in Louisiana will you find competitions involving nutria skinning and high-stakes frog jumping. Cameron’s Fur & Wildlife Festival and Rayne’s Frog Festival celebrate the state’s wildest side.
Watching skilled contestants compete in these bizarre trials is fascinating and genuinely entertaining. Frogs leap for glory while other participants demonstrate traditional fur-trapping skills passed down through generations.
These localized contests offer photographers truly one-of-a-kind moments. Your images will showcase Louisiana’s quirky relationship with its wildlife and swamp culture, giving tourists conversation-starting photos they won’t find anywhere else in America.
5. Running Of The Bulls NOLA Style
Forget Spain, New Orleans puts a hilarious twist on the Running of the Bulls. Instead of actual bulls, runners face the RollerBulls: fierce women on roller skates wielding plastic bats and wearing horned helmets.
Participants dress in traditional white and red, sprinting through city streets while getting playfully whacked. The combination of speed, laughter, and creative costumes makes for comedy gold.
Photographers capture priceless expressions of mock terror and genuine amusement. This uniquely New Orleans event perfectly blends international tradition with local humor, creating memorable images that showcase the city’s playful spirit.
6. Giant Omelet And Massive Skillet
Picture 5,000 eggs being cracked into a skillet the size of a small swimming pool. That’s the Giant Omelette Celebration in Abbeville, where community cooking reaches epic proportions.
Chefs work together over crackling wood fires, stirring the massive 12-foot skillet with custom-made paddles. Steam rises dramatically while volunteers crack eggs by the hundreds.
The spectacle draws crowds who marvel at the coordination and scale. Photographers capture the teamwork, the enormous cooking equipment, and the generous spirit of feeding an entire community from one incredible breakfast, making it a truly Instagram-worthy Louisiana tradition.
7. Rougarou Monster Costumes
Louisiana’s legendary swamp werewolf comes alive at Houma’s Rougarou Fest. Festival-goers embrace their creative side by crafting terrifying costumes representing this Cajun folklore creature.
Homemade masks feature fangs, fur, and bayou-inspired details like moss and gator teeth. Some costumes are genuinely frightening, while others add humorous touches that only locals would understand.
Photographers love capturing these imaginative interpretations of the mythical beast. Each costume tells a story about Louisiana’s rich storytelling tradition and connection to the mysterious swamps, giving tourists hauntingly beautiful images that celebrate regional folklore.
8. Burning Bonfires On The Levee
Christmas Eve in St. James Parish features a spectacular tradition: massive wooden structures set ablaze along the Mississippi River levee. Legend says these towering fires guide Papa Noël to Cajun children’s homes.
Families spend weeks building elaborate pyramids, cabins, and even alligator-shaped pyres. When darkness falls, flames illuminate the night sky in dramatic fashion.
The powerful images of roaring fires reflected in the river create magical holiday photographs. Tourists capture both the impressive scale and the warm community spirit, documenting a Christmas tradition unlike anything else in America.
9. Second Line Parades
Nothing says New Orleans quite like a second line parade. Brass bands lead the way while dancers follow behind, twirling umbrellas and handkerchiefs in spontaneous celebration.
The infectious energy pulls spectators into the street, creating organic moments of pure joy. Colorful parasols spin against historic architecture while musicians pour their souls into every note.
Photographers capture movement, emotion, and the essence of New Orleans culture in these parades. From jazz funerals to festival celebrations, second lines offer tourists dynamic images filled with music, dance, and the unscripted magic that makes Louisiana unforgettable.
10. Crawfish Eating Contests
Competitive eating reaches Cajun heights at Louisiana’s crawfish festivals. Contestants face mountains of spicy, boiled mudbugs, racing against the clock and each other.
Shells fly everywhere as competitors peel frantically, their faces turning red from both exertion and seasoning. The messy spectacle draws cheering crowds who appreciate the dedication required.
Photographers capture the intensity, the mess, and the expressions of determination mixed with spice-induced tears. These action-packed moments showcase Louisiana’s love affair with crawfish and the lengths people will go to claim festival bragging rights in true competitive spirit.
11. Zydeco Dance Floors
When the accordion starts wailing and the washboard keeps rhythm, Louisiana’s dance floors come alive with zydeco. Couples spin and stomp to this uniquely Creole music that blends blues, rhythm, and Cajun influences.
Ages range from teenagers to grandparents, all moving together in joyful celebration. The energy is contagious, with dancers often pulling shy tourists onto the floor.
Photographers capture the movement, the multigenerational participation, and the pure happiness that zydeco music creates. These images showcase Louisiana’s living musical heritage, preserving moments where tradition, community, and rhythm unite in perfect harmony.
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