Lagniappe

What is Louisiana FastSites? 19 Sites for Inaugural Round

BATON ROUGE (press release) — Louisiana Economic Development unveiled 19 sites spanning 16 parishes moving forward in the inaugural Louisiana FastSites round, marking the largest coordinated site investment effort in state history and redefining how Louisiana competes for high-impact, nationally…

The Secret Life of Shelby Stanga Told in "Shelby" Documentary

Editor's note: On Nov. 1, the Shelby Stanga documentary "Shelby" will be available to the public on YouTube. Explore the story behind "Shelby" below.  Louisiana covets its fair share of mysteries across its three million acres of wetlands; fragments of…

Man on 5,800-Mile E-Bike Journey Reaches Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS — Riding solo, Dr. Gregory Maassen seeks to accomplish a 5,800-mile e-bike journey across the United States. According to the bike tour's Instagram page, Maassen arrived in Louisiana on Monday, April 6. The live GPS tracker currently shows…

The New Orleans Saints Receive Marketing Rights in Italy

NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints received international marketing rights in Italy, the newest addition to the NFL’s Global Markets Program. The expansion to Italy represents the Saints’ second international territory within the initiative, following the designation of France…

Celebrity Cast at Tennessee Williams Festival Event

NEW ORLEANS (press release) — The Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival will have a special 40th Anniversary event: a one-night-only immersive theatrical experience directed by acclaimed director and choreographer Rob Ashford. The performance will take place on March…

New Orleans Foundation for Francophone Cultures (Nous) Awarded $100k

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Foundation for Francophone Cultures (Nous), a cultural institution committed to preserving and promoting Louisiana’s heritage cultures (with a focus on Cajun, Creole and Indigenous communities), received a $100,000 grant from the Mellon…

Baton Rouge’s Female-Led Oxbow Rum Fuels Local Spirits

On the edge of Baton Rouge, near the Mississippi River, lies Oxbow Rum Distillery. Founded in 2017, Oxbow has a spirit-filled mission: “to serve as stewards of our land and sugarcane by creating premium American rum, amplifying the stories of…

Landry Vineyards Concert Series Returns March 21

WEST MONROE, La. – The Landry Vineyards concert series returns Saturday, March 21, with its first concert, followed by four more concerts throughout the year. Imagine a lovely Saturday spring evening of wine tastings, good food, lively music, a family-friendly…

Upcoming Tennessee Williams Festival 40th Anniversary Details

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Tennessee Williams and New Orleans Literary Festival returns to the historic French Quarter for its 40th anniversary celebration of contemporary literature, theatre, New Orleans culture and, of course, Tennessee Williams.  Over 100 events in five…

850 Events and Counting for 5th Annual Love the Boot Week

BATON ROUGE – The 5th Annual Love the Boot Week takes place April 18-26, while celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Love the Boot Week is Louisiana’s largest litter cleanup and beautification event held during Earth Month. The first Love the Boot…

Louisiana Moves to Top 10 for 2026 Best Fishing States

FishingBooker released the results of its 2026 Best Fishing States Index, the fourth annual nationwide analysis of recreational fishing performance across all 50 US states. Louisiana climbed back to the top 10 nationwide, finishing 6th overall after ranking 13th last…

Who's Competing at the 2026 Louisiana Food & Wine Festival?

LAKE CHARLES – The 2026 Louisiana Food & Wine Festival, hosted by Visit Lake Charles, takes place March 12 – 15 in Lake Charles. The four-day event schedule offers a range of tastings, live cooking expositions, music and more. Additionally, the festival…

Tulane's Fifth Annual New Orleans Book Festival

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Fifth Annual New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University returns March 12-15 with four days of free public programming. Tulane welcomes readers from across the country.  The festival will feature more than 100 sessions and over 250 authors, artists and…

Lively Phantom Haunts the Saenger Theatre

An excited crowd of theater-going denizens stormed the Saenger Theatre for the opening night of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Phantom of the Opera," many returning to experience the internationally renowned 19th-century paranormal love triangle. Lines to enter the show were exceptionally…

Gov. Jeff Landry Will Present The Distinguished Flying Cross

BATON ROUGE (press release) — Governor Jeff Landry will present the Distinguished Flying Cross to Technical Sergeant Adam Brister, a former member of the Alaska Air National Guard, during a ceremony at the Louisiana House Chamber on March 9 at…

2025 LWF Conservation Achievement Award Winners Announced

BATON ROUGE (press release) – The Louisiana Wildlife Federation (LWF) announced the recipients of the 60th Annual LWF Conservation Achievement Awards, honoring individuals and organizations whose work in 2025 significantly advanced conservation and environmental stewardship across the state. Established in…