Louisiana King Cake Festival Canceled Until 2027
Photo from facebook.com/Louisianakingcakefestival
THIBODAUX, La – On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Louisiana King Cake Festival announced its cancellation of the 2026 event.
On Facebook, organizers wrote, “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of the 2026 King Cake Festival. Due to the declared State of Emergency and severe freezing temperatures, and to ensure the safety of our community, vendors and volunteers, the festival will not take place this weekend. Because of the logistical complexity of the event, we will not be rescheduling for a later date in 2026. We are shifting our focus to making 2027 our best year yet.”
The Louisiana King Cake Festival Cancellation came five days after the State of Emergency announcement.
The Office of the Governor issued the State of Emergency on Thursday, Jan. 22. The order states that the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Watch beginning Jan. 23 and Cold Weather Advisories beginning Jan. 24 for “much of Louisiana.”
According to the National Weather Service, a Winter Storm Watch is a level 2 and means conditions are favorable for snow, sleet or ice, and those with potential impact should be prepared. A Winter Storm Warning is a level 1, encouraging residents to take action, and a Winter Storm Advisory is a level 3, encouraging caution.
The State of Emergency is in effect until Saturday, Feb. 21, unless any changes occur.
King Cake Festival Cancellation Details
In its initial post, the Louisiana King Cake Festival wrote, “All ticket purchases are being converted into direct donations to LEF. Instead of buying a day of fun, you are funding classroom grants and literacy programs for our parish schools. You are helping us ensure that even though the festival is cancelled, our mission succeeds.”
The Louisiana King Cake Festival is typically the Lafourche Education Foundation’s biggest fundraising event of the year, with all of the festival proceeds directly supporting local teachers and students through classroom grants and education initiatives.
Reactions were mixed in the comments, with one commenter writing, “Shame on ya’ll for not giving refunds! Yes, it’s for a good cause, but if the event is cancelled, you should give the option of a refund. We will never attend again.”
Yet, another wrote, “More than happy for my tickets to be turned into a donation for the teachers of our parish!”
Organizers of the fest later wrote in a pinned comment, “We want to clarify a misunderstanding that has come from an automated reply,” and shared two options for ticket purchasers.
Ticket holders have two options:
- Roll your ticket over to the 2027 King Cake Fest.
- Request a refund, which is being reviewed and processed individually.
Organizers close the comment with, “We are a small volunteer team navigating an unexpected cancellation and a high volume of messages. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to take care of everyone. Thank you for supporting King Cake Fest and our community.”
