NEW ORLEANS SUMMER FESTIVALS:
Old Algiers RiverFest
Algiers Courthouse, 225 Morgan St. 504-362-8813
Celebration of the river with music, crafts, food and educational displays.
Great French Market Tomato Festival
New Orleans, French Market. 504-522-2621 (Wanda) or 504-524-8843
Celebration of the Creole tomato with cooking demonstrations, tomato tastings, parade, food and music.
CFMA Cajun Day
American Legion Hall, 12188 River Road, St. Rose. 504-835-1268
Celebration of Cajun culture with music, dancing, food and family fun. Sponsored by the Cajun French Music Association.
Soul Fest
Audubon Zoo. 504-581-4629
Crafts by local and national artists, Creole cuisine and soul food.
Lacombe Crab Cook-Off Festival
Lacombe, John Davis Park, U.S. 190 and 12th Street. 985-882-3010
Music, crab and seafood dishes, individual and group cooking competitions, crafts, a carnival and music.
Pecan Ridge Summer Bluegrass Festival
Jackson, Pecan Ridge Park, Louisiana 952. 225-634-7155
Bluegrass and gospel music, crafts and concessions.
Erath Fourth of July Celebration
Erath, downtown. 337-937-5393
60th annual celebration with fireworks, barbecue cook-off, rides, watermelon-eating contest, water fights, fais dodo, music and food.