Festivals Acadiens et Créoles: celebrate Louisiana’s music and culture

LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, which began as a single concert in 1974, has grown into an international celebration of Louisiana music and culture, drawing visitors to Lafayette.

Barry Jean Ancelet, founding organizer, shared how the festival, originally intended as a one-time event, was so successful that organizers decided to continue it annually. It showcases new generations of musicians while maintaining a focus on heritage and innovation.

“It started as a concert in 1974, supposed to be a one-off concert. It was so successful we said, ‘Maybe we should do this again.’ So we did again in ’75,” Ancelet said.

In 1975, legendary artist Zachary Richard performed for the first time with Ancelet recalled it being an unforgettable performance.

“He stuck his fist in the air and sang ‘Réveille’ –kind of an anthem and actually did wake everybody up.” Ancelet said. “And a lot of young people saw that and said, wow, this music could not only have a great history, but could have an interesting future.”

That same night, Clifton Chenier performed and presented a new sound for music lovers.

“Chenier proclaimed himself the “King of zydeco,” uniting traditional roots with a modern sound.” Ancelet said. “A shift that helped spark a new era of Louisiana music.”

Pat Mould, VP of Programming & Development for Festivals Acadiens et Créoles stated that the festival has expanded from one stage to five, providing more opportunities for musicians, artists, and small business owners.

“It’s an economic engine for all the restaurants that are here, all the crafts foods that are here, all the artists and musicians who get compensated for their performance.” Mould said.

Mould said with visitors visiting Lafayette for the three-day festival. Filling restaurants, hotels, and shops. An economic study found that 38% of festival goers travel more than 500 miles to attend.

“We’re probably about an 18 to 20 million dollar economic impact on the city and parish of Lafayette this coming weekend,” Mould said.

State Representative Chad Boyer of District 46 emphasized the festival’s role in showcasing Cajun and Creole heritage and attracting visitors from across the country and beyond.

The festival not only celebrates Louisiana’s musical heritage but also significantly contributes to the local economy, with visitors filling restaurants, hotels, and shops throughout Lafayette.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KLFY. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KLFY staff before being published.

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