We Can’t Wait to Attend Louisiana’s Most Charming Harvest Festival This Fall

Fall is festival season in Louisiana. The cooler temperatures get everybody out of the house and over to their nearest festival to enjoy live music, great food, and maybe an ice-cold beverage or two. In just a few short weeks, one of Louisiana's oldest festivals will return to New Iberia, and you won't want to miss it. The Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival is one of our favorite fall festivals, and it’s just around the corner. 

When Jesuit priests first introduced sugar cane to Louisiana in 1751, they could never have predicted the profound impact it would have on the state. Sugar cane is one of Louisiana’s biggest exports and is responsible for nearly 20,000 jobs in the Pelican State. 

Out of the 23 sugar-producing parishes, Vermilion, Iberia, Lafayette, Iberville, St. Mary, and Assumption Parishes lead the pack. In 2022, Louisiana produced more than two million tons of raw sugar, making Louisiana the top-producing state in the country. Louisiana and Florida are typically neck-and-neck every year, but it looks like Louisiana may be tasting the sweet victory for the next few years. 

Sugar cane is one of Louisiana’s biggest crops, and on the last weekend of September, all of the sugar-producing parishes come together in New Iberia to throw the annual Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival. This is one of the oldest festivals in Louisiana! The festival was born in 1937, and it’s only gotten sweeter every year. 2025 marks the festival’s 82nd season, and it might be the best one yet!

Here’s everything you need to know about this beloved fall festival in Louisiana:

September 26-28, 2025, are the dates for this year—don’t forget!

The three-day festival begins at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 26, with the annual Blessing of the Crop at Gonsoulin Farms. The carnival street fair opens at 5 p.m. and runs until 11 p.m. There will be plenty of activities throughout the festival, including a parade each day. Check the schedule of events to see a full rundown of the festival. 

The entire weekend is full of parades, live music, and delicious food. No Louisiana festival would be complete without a fais dodo, and the Sugar Cane Festival has a fabulous lineup of musical acts on Friday and Saturday, held at the Steamboat Pavilion in downtown New Iberia.

Check out the musical acts for the 2025 Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival:

Friday, September 26, 2025

• Cajun Company Band
• Wayne Toups
• Adam Leger Band 

Saturday, September 27, 2025

• 5th Avenue Band
• Kieth Frank and The Soileau Zydeco Band
• SPANK THE MONKEY
• Hot Boy Ronald, Choppa Style, DJ Jubilee + Surprise Special Guest
• MIKE JAMEZ & DJ Digital with the Hot 107.9 Breakfast Jam 

Admission is $20, and the clear bag policy is strictly enforced. Visit the festival's website to learn more.

The festival will also have plenty of carnival rides for all ages to enjoy. The Street Fair is located at Bouligny Plaza in downtown New Iberia and will be open all three days of the festival.

Visit the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival website for more information, and be sure to follow the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival on Facebook so you don't miss any upcoming announcements as the date draws near.

If you want to add a little spice to your sweet festival, carve out some time to visit Avery Island nearby.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.