Savor the difference at the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival on September 22-25, 2016 in New Iberia.
For 75 years, the festival has brought together sugar producing parishes to honor the sugar industry with royalty, sweet treats, fun and dancing in the streets. Set in historic New Iberia, the event has small town charm and features top notch entertainment.
The Mitchell Brothers Shows carnival will run Wednesday through Sunday with 14 acres of rides and games for all ages at the Louisiana PepperPlex, 607 Sucrose Dr., off Highway 14 in New Iberia.
On Friday, there will be a special service and blessing of the crop at the Sugar Cane Festival Building, 600 Parkview Dr. Local merchants and residents will add to the fun, decorating their homes and shops with special signs, designs and sugar cane stalks.
Parades will begin Friday with the Candy Toss Parade hosted by the Berry Queens followed by fireworks. The Children’s Parade will roll Saturday, preceded by a free car show and music at Bouligny Plaza located at 102 W. Main St. Sunday, King Sucrose, Queen Sugar. Other sugar parish queens will cruise on New Iberia’s award winning Main Street at the Royalty Parade.
Fais do do’s will also spice things up at Bouligny Plaza. On Friday, revelers will dance to the tunes of Side Show and Bag of Donuts ($10 cover). Saturday’s headliners include The Cast, The Bad Boys Band, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie and Jet Seven ($10 cover). Children 12 and younger get in free to all performances.
“Farm Fest” will begin on Thursday at 6 p.m. on the grounds of Shadows-on-the-Teche. There will be square dancing demonstrations, sugar cane farmer exhibits, entertainment by “2 in the Chamber,” a petting zoo, games, prizes and lots of fun. The event is free for members of the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival & Fair Association, and $10 for your entire family.
Bouligny Plaza will offer a large selection of novelty items, arts and crafts, festival memorabilia and novelty items, along with hot and sweet treats.
The 4-H livestock show will be held in conjunction with the festival Thursday through Saturday at SugArena, 713 N.W. Bypass (Hwy. 3212). Iberia 4-H and FFA members will show hogs, steers, lambs and goats. For more information on the 4-H show, visit SugArena.com.
Other activities include the coronation of Queen Sugar, as well as a horticulture show, arts and crafts and a much more.
For more information on the festival, contact [email protected], Facebook.com/LouisianaSugarCaneFestival.
For a complete schedule of events, visit HiSugar.org
For more information about events in Iberia Parish, visit IberiaTravel.com.
