Evangeline Parish: Trails, Water, and Local Traditions

Discover Evangeline Parish through its natural attractions as well as its festivals and cultural traditions. Chicot State Park is known for its hiking and trekking trails, mountain biking, and boating opportunities. The Louisiana State Arboretum adds forest trails and wildlife viewing to these nature experiences. There are also events with a variety of themes and dates. If you are planning a hotel stay, these highlights can help you shape your trip around your interests.

Trails, Forest, and Water

Chicot State Park covers more than 6,400 acres of rolling hills and waterways in south-central Louisiana. An extensive hiking and trekking trail runs all the way around Lake Chicot, making the lake the focal point of a longer loop. The trail network is also a major draw for mountain bikers: much of it is designed for cycling. The different trail options give the park more than one perspective—to explore on foot, the loop around the lake takes center stage, while much of the network is intended for cycling.

Chicot State Park also has a boathouse, three boat launches, and boat rental facilities. In addition to its trails, the park offers facilities for boating. Another place to enjoy the water is Crooked Creek Recreation Area, which has a 400-acre lake with a boat ramp.

The Louisiana State Arboretum offers a different natural setting. It encompasses more than 600 acres of natural vegetation and features varied, distinctive terrain. Nature trails wind through wooded areas and along Walker Branch and Ferguson's Gully. A visit lets you take in both forest scenery and a range of terrain.

The arboretum was established in 1961 and was the first state-supported arboretum in the United States. Wildlife you may see there includes white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, foxes, and squirrels; numerous bird species also live in the area. Admission to the Louisiana State Arboretum and its trail network is free for all visitors. Check the latest admission information before your visit.

For a scenic drive, the Zydeco-Cajun Prairie Scenic Byway runs through Evangeline Parish.

Festivals and Cultural Experiences

Ville Platte hosts Le Festival de la Viande Boucanee every year, also known as The Smoked Meat Festival. The program includes a world championship smoked-meat cooking competition. The Louisiana Cotton Festival is also held in Ville Platte: it takes place in October on the sixth weekend after Labor Day. Check the dates for the relevant year before traveling.

The Boggy Bayou Festival takes place every May, one mile south of Pine Prairie. Activities include amusement rides, arts and crafts and food booths, live music, and auctions. Its May date distinguishes it from the Louisiana Cotton Festival's October dates; if a festival is the focus of your trip, it is worth checking the dates for each event.

The Swamp Pop Museum tells the story of swamp pop through stage costumes, photographs, records, autographs, and other memorabilia. Those interested in the connection between music history and collected memorabilia will find a different way to experience the region's culture there than at its festivals.

Le Tournoi de la Ville Platte is another of the region's cultural traditions: an old sporting event based on jousting. Major Marcellin Garand brought the tradition of Le Tournoi to Louisiana. The Louisiana Swine Festival has been a cultural event in the Basile area since 1966. It takes place at the Basile Town Park Recreation Building, known as the “Pig Barn.”

Natural attractions and cultural events offer different starting points for planning a trip: trails and waterways put landscapes and outdoor activities front and center, while museums and festivals offer insights into music, tradition, and local events. If you are planning your trip around a festival, check its dates in advance; if you are focusing on nature trails, use the destinations and trail types mentioned here to guide your plans.

Discover more destinations: Mamou, Winn, St. Tammany Parish, Ouachita, St. Mary Parish, Natchitoches Parish, Orleans, Vermilion.

For the broader travel overview: Louisiana.