Spooky Festivities and More Around Louisiana
The first annual Natchitoches Louisiana Bigfoot Festival (September 7) features an enthusiastic gathering of fans, devoted researchers and investigators sharing documented field knowledge of the ever-elusive, hairy bipedal creature. It’s held near Kisatchie National Forest, known for hundreds of Bigfoot sightings and encounters. Between scheduled speakers, a cinematic film of collected videos and photos will be shown. Official Bigfoot T-shirts and collectibles abound (facebook.com/NATLABFF).
New Orleans
It’s Funky Time
The second annual NOLA Funk Fest (October 18-20) returns to the New Orleans Jazz Museum with legendary headliners including two founding members of The Meters, known as progenitors of New Orleans’ funk with Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards, bassist George Porter Jr. and lead guitarist Leo Nocentelli playing those Cissy Strut-style riffs with Grammy award-winning drummer Stanton Moore (Galactic) and Grammy award-winning singer/keyboardist Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk); three-time Grammy award-winning Blues Hall of Famer Bobby Rush; Grammy-winning piano funk-master Jon Cleary; booty-shaking bounce diva Big Freedia and more. It’s a fundraiser for the $160 million Louisiana Music and Heritage Experience slated to open in 2027 across from the New Orleans Convention Center (lmhe.live).
Lafayette
Peaceful Paddling
Louisiana’s first multi-point, self-serve kayak rental kiosk has opened at Vermilionville (300 Fisher Road). Wanderlust Rentals’ initial, flagship location in Lafayette offers multiple options and a simple process: Download the ShareKayak app and follow the instructions to unlock the desired kayak (single or double seaters) along with all the necessary life jackets and paddles. Then head down to the water, load up and paddle away (wlrental.com).
Lake Charles, New Orleans
Roll ‘Em!
The Lake Charles Film Festival (October 4-5) will have a special 100th anniversary screening of Buster Keaton’s “The Navigator” from 1924. Award-winning animator and filmmaker Al Bohl presents his new film, “The Esteemed Priority” and writer/director Christopher R. Mihm will discuss the art of low-budget filmmaking with tips on sci-fi/horror genres (lakecharlesfilmfestival.com). The Oscar-qualifying 35th New Orleans Film Festival (October 16-27) brings together 150 films and hosts over 100 emerging and established filmmakers. Cash awards and prizes are valued at over $150,000 (neworleansfilmsociety.org).
Lafayette
Of Fido, Fajitas and Margaritas
Superior Grill (2320 Kaliste Saloom Road) is Lafayette’s latest dog-friendly haven, an elaborate Mexican-themed iteration of the popular Shreveport, Baton Rouge and New Orleans locations. Fans can now enjoy those famous margaritas and fajitas in the sprawling new outdoor space with a welcoming dog-friendly area (superiorgrill.com). Also new: Moncus Park’s gated 34,500-square-foot Best Friends Bark Park for large dog breeds featuring a 1,000-square-foot elevated outlook for Fido’s panoramic off-leash socializing (moncuspark.org/dogpark for the required permits).
