Louisiana Fall Fests to Day Trip To

New Orleans has a jam-packed fall festival schedule with dozens of can’t-miss events within the city limits. However, the surrounding area offers several fall festivals worth day-tripping to. There’s Rougarou Fest in Houma, Festival of the Bonfires in Lutcher, and Gulf Coast Equality Fest in Mississippi, which you can take the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service to. Dive into our region's unique culture with a day trip to one of the festivals below (distances were calculated from downtown New Orleans). Pack your snacks and hit the road!

Festivals and Events within an Hour of New Orleans

Andouille Festival 

When: October 16-18, 2026
Where: 2900 U.S. Highway 51, Laplace, LA 
Distance from New Orleans: 28 miles 
Tickets: $5

St. John the Baptist Parish’s Andouille Fest returns this October to LaPlace, LA. Here you’ll find all the hallmarks of a Louisiana festival: great food, great music, arts and crafts, and more, including a second line parade and a 5K and 2K. Don’t miss your chance to have a smokin’ good time and try all the cuisine centered around the festival’s namesake.  

Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival 

When: October 17-18, 2026
Where: 133 Mabel Drive, Madisonville, LA 
Distance from New Orleans: 38 miles 
Tickets: $15-20

Boat enthusiasts won’t want to miss this one! On the banks of the Tchefuncte River, enjoy musical performances, arts and crafts, children’s activities, hundreds of classic, spectator, and wooden boats, and the Quick 'n Dirty Boat Building Contest and Parade. Register in advance if you and a team of four-to-six friends would like to participate in the boat building contest. 

NOLA Zydeco Fest  

When: October 31 and November 1, 2026 
Where: Heritage Park, 1701 Bayou Lane, Slidell, LA 
Distance from New Orleans: 31 miles  
Tickets: $33.85-$60.54 

Who's ready to jam to some good ol' Zydeco? The NOLA Zydeco Fest returns for its sixth year this Halloween weekend. Whilst listening and dancing to some authentic Creole and Cajun music, the fest will have a bonafide gumbo cookoff, dance lessons, an interactive kids zone, and more. Step out of the house and come and enjoy the NOLA Zydeco Fest!  

Festival of the Bonfires 

When: December 11-13, 2026
Where: Lutcher Recreational Park, Lutcher, LA 
Distance from New Orleans: 46 miles 
Tickets: $5

There’s a tradition out in the River Parishes that bonfires must be lit to guide Papa Noël (Santa Claus) along his journey on Christmas Eve. Get a taste of the tradition during Festival of the Bonfires in early December. Bonfires will be lit on Friday and Saturday nights. Enjoy live music, delicious food, the gumbo cookoff, a 5K, a car show, a cookie and gingerbread contest, fireworks, and all the magic of the holiday season at this festival. 

Festivals and Events within Two Hours of New Orleans

Rougarou Fest 

When: October 23-25, 2026
Where: 86 Valhi Blvd. (near the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center), Houma, LA 
Distance from New Orleans: 57 miles
Tickets: Free Admission!

Part werewolf, part man, part mythical creature: the beloved Rougarou is a monster from Cajun folklore, so naturally there’s a festival about it. Rougarou Fest is a free family-friendly festival with a spooky flair showcasing live music, cultural activities, Cajun food, and much more. The festival strives to become Zero Waste, and all proceeds go to the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, a nonprofit organization that is revolutionizing how we think, teach, and learn about Louisiana’s disappearing coast. Experience a wide array of activities, including the Krewe Ga Rou Parade, the Atchafalaya Narrative Stage, the costume contest, and the nutria pardoning, where Bouillie (Boo-yee) lives to see another day. 

Greater Baton Rouge State Fair 

When: October 22-November 1, 2026
Where: Airline Hwy. Park/Fairgrounds, 16072 Airline Hwy.,​ Baton Rouge, LA 
Distance from New Orleans: 58 miles 
Tickets: $15

The Greater Baton Rouge State Fair is a festival spanning 11 days this fall, complete with amusement rides, live music, variety acts, petting zoo, fair food, and more. It’s fun for the whole family at the State Fair.  

French Food Festival 

When: October 23-25, 2026
Where: 307 East 5th Street, Larose, LA 
Distance from New Orleans: 61 miles 
Tickets: Free Admission!

Celebrating Louisiana’s French heritage and Cajun bayou, French Food Festival takes place south of New Orleans in Larose, LA. Enjoy live music, dancing, and an incredible array of local specialty dishes.

Gulf Coast Equality Fest

When: October 17, 2026
Where: 280 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi, MS​
Distance from New Orleans: 91 miles
Tickets: Free Admission!

All are welcome at Gulf Coast Equality Fest in Biloxi, MS. Attendees can anticipate a diverse range of activities, including live music, drag performances, various vendors, delectable food options, raffles, informational booths, children's activities, and much more. Admission and parking are complimentary. Best of all, hop aboard the Amtrak Mardi Gras Service to make your travel to and from New Orleans a breeze. The train will deliver you from Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans to the Biloxi Amtrak Station. With trains leaving in the morning and returning in the afternoon and evening, it's the perfect festival for a day trip without driving.

Louisiana Renaissance Festival 

When: November 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 27-29; December 5-6, 12-13, 2026
Where: 46468 River Rd., Hammond, LA 
Distance from New Orleans: 58 miles 
​Tickets: $31

There’s so much to see and do at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival. Each weekend has a different theme: Fae and Fantasy, Pirate, Celtic, Lore & Legends, Viking, and Yuletide & Fireworks Finale. Dress accordingly in costume or come in plain clothes and enjoy a variety of performances, plus food, shopping, and special tastings, including tea, whisky, rum, mead, beer, and wine tastings. 

Festivals and Events Two+ Hours Outside of New Orleans

Giant Omelette Celebration 

When: November 7-8, 2026
Where: S Magdalen Square, Abbeville, LA 
Distance from New Orleans: 149 miles 
Tickets: Free Admission!

Okay, okay, so perhaps this is more than a day trip for most people, but you can’t miss your chance to see the creation of a 5000+ egg omelette with 15 pounds of Louisiana crawfish tails and 50 pounds of butter. And that’s not all—there’s additional food, live French-Cajun music, an egg cracking competition, arts and crafts, an antique car show, and a kid-sized giant omelette with 600 eggs. Allons-y!  

For a full list of fall festivals in Louisiana, see here.

What to Know Before You Go

For a day trip to a Louisiana festival, you'll want to plan out your transportation in advance. Renting a car is easy and there are several companies within the city where you can do so. As for the trip itself, remember to bring water and take stops along the way to enjoy the beauty of the state! 

Frequently Asked Questions