Celebrating Louisiana's Black History & Heritage
Find out how to celebrate Black culture, history and heritage in Louisiana!
Find out how to celebrate Black culture, history and heritage in Louisiana!
Louisiana celebrates Black history across the state, all year long. From Martin Luther King Jr. Day to Mardi Gras parades and cultural festivals, there's no shortage of ways to honor those who have influenced Louisiana through music, food and traditions that have made the state what it is today.
Check out our list of travel-worthy festivals, parades, museums and historic sites across the Bayou State.
Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers
French Quarter Festival
Irma Thomas at Jazzfest
Big Chief Donald Harrison at Jazzfest
Black Culture & Heritage Festivals in Louisiana
1. ESSENCE Festival of Culture
ESSENCE Festival of Culture began in 1995 as ESSENCE magazine’s 25th birthday party. The festival has become, in the words of its founders, “the largest African-American music and empowerment event in the country,” attracting more than 200,000 people to New Orleans each year. The Festival of Culture is unique among major events in New Orleans and across the country, and it ranks among the most popular events worldwide designed for African-American audiences.
Each year the lineup includes some of the biggest legends in music, including GRAMMY® award winners and nominees. Acts like Missy Elliott, Mary J Blige, Megan Thee Stallion, Ludacris and New Orleans favorite Big Freedia have graced the festival’s stages along with so many more inspirational speakers and civic leaders leading empowerment events.
2. French Quarter Fest
The French Quarter Festival in New Orleans has been celebrating music since 1984. This annual spring event has become one of the most anticipated and best-attended celebrations in the state.
Billed as the largest free music festival in the South, French Quarter Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people over three days. In recent years, 20 stages in prime locations throughout the French Quarter have presented as many as 800 musicians representing every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R&B and New Orleans funk, from brass bands, folk, gospel, and Latin to classical and international music.
Naturally, food is a big star here. More than 70 food and beverage booths located throughout the area feature authentic local cuisine from the area’s oldest and most beloved restaurants, as well as up-and-coming stars of the culinary scene.
3. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is arguably the world's largest and best-attended multi-style music festival. The grand event, named for New Orleans’ indigenous music, unfolds across two weekends — always the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May.
It’s the place to hear and see the great names of Louisiana music like Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Buddy Guy, The Meters, The Preservation Hall Brass Band, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Big Freedia and the famed Mardi Gras Indians.
While the main stages are always a big draw, the Cultural Exchange Pavilion is a must-visit. Since its addition in 1996, the Cultural Exchange Pavilion has celebrated Louisiana’s multicultural heritage.
The Pavilion serves as a hub of cultural exchange, where festival attendees and local artists can mingle with master craftsmen and performers from places like Haiti, Mali, South Africa and more. The Pavilion is home to artist demonstrations, live music and dance showcases, parades, cultural displays, photo exhibits and authentic cuisine.
4. Satchmo Summerfest
Take part in New Orleans' rich musical heritage at the annual Satchmo SummerFest, a multi-day jazz festival celebrating the life of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. With seminars, art displays, live music and lots of locally made beer and cuisine, festival-goers are sure to get a taste of New Orleans' vibrant culture.
Experience live music all weekend, featuring traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, brass bands and children's programming across multiple stages. From up-and-coming artists to festival veterans who have taken the stage for years to GRAMMY®-nominated acts, you'll get a taste of all the musical talent Louisiana has to offer.
Get a deeper appreciation for the festival with a visit to the Satchmo Legacy Stage, which features a variety of national and international speakers, including jazz scholars, people who knew and worked with Louis Armstrong, historians, Armstrong House Museum faculty and musicians. You can even try dishes inspired by Louis Armstrong at New Orleans restaurants.
5. Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival
The Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival, founded in 2008, is held on the outskirts of the French Quarter in Tremé, celebrating the neighborhood as a key proving ground in the birthplace of jazz!
It was in Congo Square that enslaved African people gathered on Sunday afternoons to practice their ancestral traditions. Their legacy lives on in our Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival, a free event that celebrates the music, food and dance of our forebears, creating a fun celebration for the whole family.
Catch everything from brass bands and performances by popular Mardi Gras Indian acts to drum circles and African dances. The festival also features a large arts market showcasing the handmade creations of dozens of local artists. Hungry? Enjoy all the local eats, such as gumbo in every variety (of course), Yakamein, pralines, beignets and more.
6. Black Heritage Festival
The Black Heritage Festival is chock-full of performances and activities. Be awed at live musical performances of genres like gospel, zydeco and blues, and feel moved by dance, expressive arts and theater. Peruse over 70 food and merchandise vendors and shop for goodies like art, books, jewelry and clothing. Be a spectator at the Soul Food Black Pot Cookoff, where competitors prepare their best soul food dish to be judged based on flavor, presentation and originality. Attend health, wellness and financial workshops or even empowerment, educational, political and business seminars. This event is for all! Bring the little ones to the Kids Zone for the baby expo, fashion shows, giveaways and more.
7. Let The Good Times Roll Festival
Join Rho Omega and Friends at Festival Plaza for a three-day festival honoring African-American heritage and culture in celebration of Juneteenth, one of the largest in the South, attracting around 25,000 visitors annually. This event truly celebrates the African-American community's music, art, fashion and unity. Let The Good Times Roll Festival features performances by top names in soul, gospel, hip-hop and R&B. Be sure to check out the lineup with local, regional and nationally recognized musicians. Partake in the festival’s all-ages Juneteenth Freedom Bike Ride that rolls through downtown Shreveport, historic neighborhoods and Civil Rights sites.
8. Soul Food Festival
Franklin
Collard greens. Candied sweet potatoes. Black-eyed peas with a dash of Louisiana hot sauce. If this makes your mouth water, connect to Louisiana’s culinary roots at Franklin’s Soul Food Festival. When you’re not sampling the likes of grits and cornbread, show your skills in a fishing tournament, explore goods from craft vendors or listen to zydeco favorites (think: Lil Nate & the Zydeco Big Tymers, Krossfyre).
Mardi Gras Parades & More
1. Zulu Mardi Gras Parade
Zulu is one of Louisiana's most historic Mardi Gras parades, started by a group of men from all walks of life who aimed to uplift New Orleans’ Black community. While the group marched in Mardi Gras as early as 1901, their first appearance as Zulus came in 1909. In 1915, the parade introduced floats, first constructed on a spring wagon using dry goods boxes. And on September 20, 1916, the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club was incorporated.
Today, Zulu floats are extravagant sights to see, uniquely throwing the Zulu coconut or "Golden Nugget," one of the most sought-after parade throws in the state. According to the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, the first reference to the coconut tradition dates back to around 1910, when coconuts were given from floats in their natural “hairy” state. Some years later, Lloyd Lucus began stripping and painting the coconuts, a tradition that the parade devotedly continues today. Also jaw-dropping are the costumes of the royalty and riders on the floats. Zulu has featured royalty since the early years, with notable kings such as Louis Armstrong, King Zulu 1949, who was featured in Time Magazine that year.
2. Krewe of Omega Mardi Gras Parade
The Krewe of Omega was formed in 1970 to bring Mardi Gras activities to the Black community. The parade is held each year on the Saturday prior to Mardi Gras and fills downtown streets with music, candy, beads, toys and lots of Madi Gras pageantry and cheer. Visitors have come from all over the state and beyond to witness this Mardi Gras tradition.
3. African American Parade Celebration
Since 1988, Shreveport has hosted the annual African American Parade Celebration, which honors the community every February during Black History Month and features local religious, youth and civic groups to entertain and delight spectators. Candy and Mardi Gras beads are thrown along the parade route in a procession filled with high-stepping bands, cheerleaders and dance troupes, churches, community and gospel groups, drill teams, youth departments, ROTC units, sororities and fraternities, civic and social clubs, horseback riders, motorcyclists and more.
The African American Parade Celebration held its first parade with only 50 people in attendance and 500 participants. Over the past 35 years, the celebration has grown to more than 150,000 attendees and 8,000 participants. This lively party is a must-visit!
Queen of Zulu
Historic Zulu makeup
Zulu parade
Zulu costumes
Louisiana Juneteenth Celebrations
1. New Orleans Juneteenth Festival
Head over to Louis Armstrong Park for the free New Orleans Juneteenth Festival hosted by the Louisiana Afro-Indigenous Society. The day kicks off with a joyous second line in Congo Square. Then enjoy multiple performances, from hip-hop and R&B to traditional West African dance. Hear from historians and cultural experts in a panel discussion, and participate in a Story Circle.
2. Juneteenth Freedom Festival
In Lake Charles, celebrate community pride at the Juneteenth Freedom Festival. Weekend festivities range from senior bingo to family Olympic-style competitions. The annual parade features marching bands, elaborate floats, dance troupes and local organizations spreading joy through the streets. Snow cones, face paintings, a movie under the stars and fireworks — this festival guarantees a fun time for all! Wear your red, black and green, and celebrate freedom with friends and neighbors.
3. Louisiana Juneteenth Celebration
Vidalia
In Vidalia, join in on this multi-day festival where people of all backgrounds can dive into Black culture and heritage. Enjoy live blues, hip-hop, gospel and zydeco. And don’t miss the Parade of Legends celebrating historic and famed Black individuals through performances. Be sure to stick around for additional celebrations and entertainment.
4. Juneteenth Celebration
Make your way to historic downtown Mansfield for the annual Juneteenth Celebration. This event truly is a celebration with some of Louisiana's best hip-hop, zydeco, blues and gospel artists hitting the stage. Don't miss the annual parade, food vendors, children’s activities and more.
6. Juneteenth Folklife Celebration
Opelousas’ Juneteenth Folklife Celebration, held in part at the Creole Heritage Folklife Center, honors the folk art, heritage and traditions of African-American culture in St. Landry Parish. And over under the Farmers Market Pavilion, look forward to live music, traditional dancing, original folk art and more.
7. Juneteenth Festival
Toledo Bend Lake Country celebrates Juneteenth with its Black Heritage & Juneteenth Celebration. Complete with a parade through downtown Many, a praise and worship singing extravaganza, storytelling, games and a car show, this festival is the place to be in Central Louisiana.
Must-See Museums, Historic Sites & More
Frogmore Cotton Plantation & Gins
Just across the Mississippi from Natchez, Frogmore Cotton Plantation is a 1,800-acre working cotton farm and museum. Visitors can learn about the contrasts between life on the farm in the pre-Civil War South and the modern cotton farming and ginning that occur there today. Tours focus on plantation life before and during the Civil War, then shift to post-war sharecropping. You’ll examine the laws governing slavery on the plantation, discover how music was used as a secret form of communication and step into original buildings that once housed enslaved individuals.
Melrose Plantation
For more than two centuries, the Cane River area near Natchitoches has been home to a distinct cultural group: Afro-Creoles. Melrose Plantation was the original seat of the Afro-Creole Metoyer family. It was owned and operated by Marie Thérèse, a former enslaved person who became a wealthy landowner and businesswoman. The African House, a building on the property, is a rare example of African-influenced architecture in the United States.
River Road African American Museum
Located in Donaldsonville, the River Road African American Heritage Museum displays artifacts of African-American life in the neighboring sugar parishes. Explore freedom stories from Southeastern Louisiana’s Underground Railroad, plus displays about rural Black doctors, Creole life in the town and the surrounding countryside.
Eddie G. Robinson Museum
Head to Grambling State University to visit the Eddie G. Robinson Museum, dedicated to the legendary Eddie Robinson, the first college football coach to reach 400 wins. Exhibits include recreations of Robinson’s office, the football team’s locker and film rooms, a “Hall of Honors” displaying numerous trophies, awards and accolades, and a room with pro football jerseys from notable Grambling alumni who played under Robinson.
Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum
The Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum aims to preserve and share the history and culture of African American Louisianians. This small, community-powered museum houses paintings from artists like Don Cincone, Frank Kelley Jr. and Bernard Menyweather, and an installation dedicated to professional basketball player Bill Russell, widely considered to be one of the greatest centers of all time.
Louisiana Civil Rights Trail
The places listed above are just a few important sites of Louisiana's deep-rooted Black history. On the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail, learn about heroes who strategized, organized, preached, marched, boycotted, stood up, sat down and sang for change. Visit sites of culture and commerce, desegregation, protests and confirmations. Sit where changemakers sat at meeting places like Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, and stop at historical markers throughout the state.
