Springtime Guide to Festival International: A Passport-Free World Tour in Lafayette

Festival International de Louisiane turns downtown Lafayette into a global celebration—and this year marks 40 years of magic. Darley Newman goes behind the scenes with Festival International’s Carly Viator Courville and meets locals like the Cajun Hatter to uncover what makes this volunteer-powered, community-driven, free event so special: five stages, international sounds, unforgettable bites, surprise street performances, and the culture that keeps French and Cajun roots alive. It’s like traveling the world without leaving downtown Lafayette.Listen to the podcast to get the lowdown on diverse food, pop-up street performers, and local tips for planning your days, getting around, where to stay and pairing the festival with Lafayette, Louisiana's arts and Acadian culture.Get more trip itineraires, travel advice, Darley's Revolutionary Road Trip book and more at darley-newman.com