Events

All are welcome to attend, light refreshments will be served. The 2023 winning design will be the official festival poster and festival t-shirt design. The 2023 festival theme is: “Sweet Home New Iberia“ honoring our past, celebrating our sweet future! 

Merchandise will be available for purchase at the event including posters, t-shirts, hats, and festival pins.

Chili cookoff with fundraising games and more for a fun filled time. Entertainment Friday starts at 5 p.m. and all-day Saturday. The cookoff will be Saturday 6 a.m. with judging at 11 a.m. and serving at noon with live auction. Admission: Friday $5; Saturday $10; Ice chest tag 1 time fee of $20; ages 4 and under free. Organized by Down South Heroes.

The first Friday of each month will feature local Cajun music while remaining Fridays will feature a variety of singers, songwriters as well as local legends. Pie Bar will offer a 10% discount on all menu items, every Monday, to all residents of New Iberia. Residents will simply show their drivers license (or other ID) to receive 10% off their food and drink order.

Chili cookoff with fundraising games and more for a fun filled time. Entertainment Friday starts at 5 p.m. and all-day Saturday. The cookoff will be Saturday 6 a.m. with judging at 11 a.m. and serving at noon with live auction. Admission: Friday $5; Saturday $10; Ice chest tag 1 time fee of $20; ages 4 and under free. Organized by Down South Heroes.

Come out to this gumbo cookoff for a day of fun including food and drink vendors, music, kids activities, arts and crafts booths, health screening, mansion tours and more. No outside food or drinks allowed. 

Experience a harvest of delicious homegrown produce and home-made products by area farmers, artists and crafters. Also included are hand-made cypress yard objects, home-made bread and fresh baked goods, ceramics, honey, jellies, jams, herbs, candies, handcrafted wooden bowls and utensils, birdhouses, garden benches and much more. The market is held every Saturday morning from 7 - 11 a.m. and Tuesday afternoon from 2 - 6 p.m.

March 16-April 2, 2023. Live theatre production, concessions.

Join 64 Parishes magazine's editorial staff and two regular contributors for a conversation on the nuts and bolts of writing for (and pitching to) magazines.

Award winning author, Mary Beth Magee, through actual hands on exercises, research and real-life examples, will share her creative process.

Jean Laffite Revealed: Unraveling One of America's Longest-Running Mysteries takes a fresh look at the various myths and legends surrounding one of the last great pirates.

John Warner Smith, former Louisiana Poet Laureate, will be reading works for the Books Along the Teche Literary Festival. 

Fr. Mark Toups is assistant to the Diocesan Administrator, Coordinator for Parish Life and Development, and Pastor of Our Lady of the Isle Catholic Church in Grand Isle, LA. Fr. Toups has written several books on the Catholic faith, is an incredible homilist and has done blogs dealing with faith in our lives.

Dr. Barry Ancelet will explore how the old sounds of Iberia Parish continue to influence the contemporary Louisiana French music scene.

The Books Along the Teche Literary Festival is packed full of fun and educational activities for children of all ages. There are kids cooking demo, storytimes, a children's author's fair, drawing and writing workshop and story walk and more. Visit the festival's website for details and registration information.

March 16-April 2, 2023. Live theatre production, concessions.

Take a guided walking tour of New Iberia's Historic District locations made famous in James Lee Burke's Dave Robicheaux book series and films. Check in at Victor's Cafeteria for the  walking tour. Visit the Bayou Teche Museum, Victor's Cafeteria, Books Along the Teche, Church Alley Pocket Park and more. 

Lisa Wingate is a former journalist, inspirational speaker, and #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of thirty novels including Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends. Book Signing will be in the Doc Voorhies Wing of the Bayou Teche Museum at 4 - 4:30 p.m.

Take your ideas from dream to done during this mother/daughter workshop with local author, Ainsley Britain. During this workshop and live podcast recording, Ainsley will share her own experiences of becoming a published author and use these to help you identify actionable steps to achieve your dreams and goals.

You Ought To Do a Story About Me is a heartbreaking and redemptive story of a fallen-from-grace NFL player (Jackie Wallace), discovered by a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist (Ted Jackson) on the streets of New Orleans, and the transformative friendship that binds them. Book Signing to follow at the Doc Voorhies Wing of the Bayou Teche Museum.

Lisa Wingate will be present to discuss aspects from her New York Times Best Selling book "The Book of Lost Friends". Karen Riley Simmons from the Rapides Parish Library System will lead the discussions along with Lisa. Lunch will be provided by Church Alley Cafe.

Moderator Stanley Dry and presenters Marcelle Bienvenu and Gerald Patout will discuss why people love and use Cajun cookbooks. This presentation will provide you with their "take" on Louisiana Cajun cooking and how family recipes pass down from generation to generation are very much a part of the Cajun culture.

Compete in a spirited Bourée tournament game sponsored by Pelicans On The Bayou. Beginner and experienced players are welcome. Prizes and gift certificates for winners, no cash awards. The tournament is $25 and participants must be 21 or older to enter.

March 31 - April 2, 2023. Literary Festival with a focus on Great Southern Writers, highlighting Iberia Parish authors and others who write about the unique culture of Louisiana. Events include cooking demonstrations, workshops on writing, book fair, academic symposiums, receptions, poetry, music, live oak walk, movie screenings, children's activities, readers theater and more. Learn Cajun dancing or how to play bouree, and tour the areas described in the Dave Robicheaux novels.

March 31-April 2, 2023. The L'Acadian Art Guild exhibit will be on display Friday through Sunday during library hours, with reception on Friday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Artists will be on hand to meet visitors and talk about their art.

Southern authors selling their books at this downtown book fair sponsored by Books Along the Teche. A Children's Book section will be located at George Rodrigue Park (211 E. Main St.). In the event of inclement weather, visit the festival's Facebook for alternative site, or call Shadows-on-the-Teche at (337) 369-6446.

The Iberia Cultural Resources Association presents Andy Smith, 1 p.m., and the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, 3 p.m., in special free outdoor performances under the oaks. Bring your picnic lunch. Best picnic theme judging at 2:30 pm. Balloon artist and beverage booth available. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Sugar Cane Festival Building. Visit website for details and watch this video.

March 31 - April 2, 2023. Literary Festival with a focus on Great Southern Writers, highlighting Iberia Parish authors and others who write about the unique culture of Louisiana. Events include cooking demonstrations, workshops on writing, book fair, academic symposiums, receptions, poetry, music, live oak walk, movie screenings, children's activities, readers theater and more. Learn Cajun dancing or how to play bouree, and tour the areas described in the Dave Robicheaux novels.

March 31-April 2, 2023. The L'Acadian Art Guild exhibit will be on display Friday through Sunday during library hours, with reception on Friday from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Artists will be on hand to meet visitors and talk about their art.

Local farmers selling produce, plants, honey, homemade pies or any item made/produced locally. Grass-fed beef, pork and lamb are also available at the meat market during this time.