It’s hard to imagine a culture richer with local color and sheer joy of life than Louisiana. While the state has endured hard times, both ancient and new, its people celebrate each new day with a robust heritage of music, food, art and history. From the birthplace of jazz and the famous French Quarter in New Orleans to the Cajun flair of Lafayette and the rockabilly history of Shreveport, along with Mardi Gras celebrations all along the state, Louisiana is guaranteed to lift the spirits.
New Orleans
“New Orleans is unlike any other city in the country,” says Mary Beth Romig, director of communications and public relations for the New Orleans Metropolitan CVB. “We truly are a unique culture, an incredible melting pot of cultures, with architecture, cuisine and history.”
In fact, Romig mentioned that the biggest problem most planners have is narrowing down their options for unique experiences, from cooking classes with noted city chefs to jazz cruises along the Mississippi River.
One of the most popular venues is Mardi Gras World, where astounding floats are created for the city’s annual Mardi Gras celebration. If a conference can’t be scheduled for the Mardi Gras season, then a visit to this set of working warehouses is the next best thing. Groups can tour the facility and see such jaw-dropping sights such as the 140-foot, Orpheus Leviathan float, enjoy king cake and collect beads, or dive into a mini-float-making workshop, where they sketch their ideas then roll up their sleeves, and with the guidance of local artists, bring their creations to life, complete with fringe and paint. The facility is also available for parties with a backdrop of giant, colorful floats and sculptures.
Romig also recommends a ride on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, noted as the oldest streetcar line in the nation. The 13-mile round trip takes attendees through uptown New Orleans, past the city’s gorgeous homes and mansions. Also popular are the Garden District and French Quarter walking tours, complete with guides to fill in all the juicy historical blanks. For the brave-hearted, one option is the New Orleans Ghost Tour, which has been featured on the Travel Channel and Bravo.
What would New Orleans be without music? Jazz and blues provide the city’s heartbeat, and attendees can soak in the music scene as it evolves at the trendy Blue Nile club in the French Quarter; enjoy live jazz music and dinner aboard the Creole Queen paddleboat, which can handle up to 950 guests for a reception; or plan an event at the Old U.S. Mint, part of the Louisiana State Museum, which offers a historic jazz exhibit and can assist in arranging for local musicians to make the night swing.
Another historic property will be available in June. The historic Roosevelt Hotel is currently undergoing massive renovations, and will reopen as a Waldorf=Astoria with 500 guest rooms, three ballrooms and the famed Blue Room, a supper club that once drew the biggest names in entertainment.
In St. Tammany Parish, groups can partake in a bubblier type of history, with behind-the-scenes wine tasting at Pontchartrain Vineyards, a facility that produces distinctive regional wines especially for Louisiana’s cuisine. Groups can also tour Abita Brewery, then sample the goods in the tasting room. For the entire experience, they can follow up the tour with a meal at the Abita Brew Pub.
Nearby in Jefferson Parish, attendees will find a whole new world with Cajun Pride Swamp Tours and complete the day with a down-home seafood boil for a real taste of Louisiana. Prefer gorgeous, manicured gardens and a view to die for? Go for a themed reception at Destrehan Plantation, a graceful setting for any event. The property also offers historic programming and demonstrations in open-hearth cooking, candle-making, herbal remedies and more.
Baton Rouge
In the state capital, the culture is a mix of three colorful ingredients: Cajun and Creole cuisine, Mardi Gras and politics. While the city has plenty of festivals, the season of Mardi Gras remains the big daddy; Baton Rouge boasts seven different parades celebrating Fat Tuesday alone. Can’t make it for Mardi Gras? Attendees can still enjoy outdoor live music with the Friday night Live After Five concert series, which features a different genre for each session, including native Cajun and zydeco bands.
“We also have a rich political history,” says Katie Guasco, destination services manager for the Baton Rouge CVB. “The Old State Capitol and Old Governor’s Mansion are popular spots for groups.”
The mansion, once home to legendary governor Huey P. Long, offers a ballroom for indoor events or the rose garden for outdoor receptions. Jazz musicians are available to play for any event, giving it that unique Louisiana flavor. The architecturally stunning Old State Capitol, including the rotunda and House and Senate Chambers, are available for rental. Groups can combine the space with a dynamic speaker who can bring the state’s history to dramatic life for an amazing event.
Groups can switch from politicians to gators at Alligator Bayou, which has numerous options for groups of up to 150 guests, including boat tours, live Cajun and zydeco music, dancing in the outdoor pavilion and Cajun food, from old-fashioned seafood boils to complete on-site catering. To further explore Cajun and Creole cuisine, roll up those sleeves for some lessons at the Louisiana Culinary Institute or learn the secrets of open-hearth cooking at Magnolia Mound Plantation; at both facilities, attendees can pull up a chair after their workshop and enjoy the fruits—and grains—of their labor.
Lafayette
Known as the birthplace of zydeco and Cajun music, Lafayette enjoyed a special distinction during the Grammy Awards this year; it was the first year that the region’s unique musical genre received its own category, and all nominated acts hailed from the Lafayette area.
It’s no wonder, then, that music plays a huge part in the region’s culture, including Vermillionville, the 23-acre park that recreates a historic Cajun/Creole village along the bayou during the mid-1700s to mid-1800s. Immersive programs are plentiful, with costumed musicians and craftsmen giving the history of their particular trade. Planners can customize workshops for their groups, from Mardi Gras mask-making to zydeco dance lessons. Vermillionville also serves as a great off-site venue for meals or parties, complete with live music on the stage.
For Cajun and Creole cooking, the park also offers a cooking school, with both 30-minute, one-dish lessons and longer sessions including three recipes. More culinary classes are available at Prejean’s Restaurant. The facility’s Cajun Cooking School teaches guests how to make crawfish etouffee, seafood gumbo and bread pudding.
Not up to a kitchen challenge? Head over to McGee’s Landing, take a swamp tour then rip into a genuine Cajun lunch. Planners can even arrange for local musicians to play during the meal.
Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana
Known for casino resorts and outdoor fun, Lake Charles and the Southwest Louisiana region also has a thriving festival culture, with 75 festivals each year celebrating everything from Mardi Gras to pirates and even the local rabbit-raising industry.
“With so many festivals, it’s easy to walk away with a little flavor,” says Angie Manning Istre, communications manager for the Southwest Louisiana CVB.
A top pick with planners is the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, recently renovated with animated characters and the largest display of Mardi Gras costumes in the world. Planners can arrange for a local costume-maker to take groups on a behind-the-scenes tour of creating fabulous outfits for the festival and learn the history of Mardi Gras, or set up a king cake decoration workshop in a local bakery, in which guests can decorate their own cakes then have them shipped to their homes. The museum is part of the Central School Arts and Humanities Center, so there are also several other galleries in the complex to peruse as well.
Ready for some fresh air? Head out for a hike along the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, a 180-mile walking and driving tour with wildlife refuges and visitor centers. Although the trail is self-guided, planners can set up guided tours for groups along the boardwalk in Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, where attendees can learn about the unique wetland eco-system.
Shreveport/Bossier City
Located in northwest Louisiana near the Texas and Arkansas borders, Shreveport and Bossier City are the heart of the region known as Ark-La-Tex and the perfect place to mix Cajun spice, Texas swing and Arkansas country into the unique music of rockabilly. Home of the famed Louisiana Hayride, the radio program that showcased a young Elvis Presley, the area has made its reputation by blending three regional cultures into one tasty dish.
The home of the Hayride, in fact, is one of the top cultural activities groups can enjoy. The entrance to the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium is flanked by statues of Presley and James Burton, a hometown guitar guru still making music today. The building is also located in a neighborhood named for famed musician Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter, who saved many folk standards from obscurity. The auditorium has a museum dedicated to Shreveport’s many music legends. Attendees can peruse the exhibits while listening to live music for a reception, or enjoy a special concert highlighting all the different genres Louisiana has to offer. There’s so much music to choose from, the CVB offers a service to match groups up with a list of musicians, from jazz to zydeco or rockabilly, that will perfectly fit any event.
“If you want to know how local people live and celebrate, plan your event around a festival,” recommends Brandy Evans, vice president of the Shreveport/Bossier City CVB.
The area boasts dozens of festivals each year, from Mardi Gras to Mudbug Madness, which celebrates the all-important crawfish.
Planners can also work with the CVB for a multistop reception using the town trolley, stopping for snacks at various galleries, historic sites and attractions like Artspace at the West Edge and the Sci-port Science Center. For a different thrill, attendees can tour the 1897 Logan Mansion and discover the home’s ghostly history.
Monroe/West Monroe
As the birthplace of Delta Airlines and home of the Aviation and Military Museum of Louisiana, Monroe and West Monroe have a rich history written in the skies. The area’s Selman Field, now part of the museum complex, was once the largest navigation school in the country during World War II. The museum is open for special events and tours, and serves as an amazing backdrop for receptions.
The Monroe area was also home to the first bottler of Coca-Cola, and a newly opened museum marks the achievement at the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens, which also includes the 1914 Biedenharn Home, the ELSong Garden and the Bible Museum, which is slated to reopen this spring after renovations. Special programming is available, including garden activities, and a speakers’ bureau provides a museum expert in topics ranging from biblical plants to an overview of the museum and its history.
Alexandria/Pineville
Along the banks of the Red River in central Louisiana, Alexandria and Pineville share a rich history, exemplified by the area’s numerous museums. Both the African-American Cultural Center and the Arna Bontemps African-American Museum/Cultural Arts Center, named for Bontemps, an influential African-American poet in the early 20th century, offer cultural programming, including workshops and speakers.
Another site marking history will open this summer: a new state park featuring Fort Randolph and Fort Buhlow that will focus on the state’s Civil War history with exhibits and a visitor’s center. Each May the area also has a reenactment of the burning of Alexandria during the Civil War, and historians are on hand at the park to make history come alive.
Several plantation homes are available for group events, including Inglewood Plantation, Kent Plantation House, Tyrone Plantation and Loyd Hall. The CVB can also arrange live music or historic workshops and demonstrations illustrating daily life from the early 1800s.
For More Info
Alexandria/Pineville CVB 318.442.9546 www.theheartoflouisiana.com
Baton Rouge Area CVB 225.383.1825 www.visitbatonrouge.com
Jefferson CVB 504.731.7083 www.neworleansgateway.com
Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission 337.232.3737 www.lafayettetravel.com
Louisiana Office of Tourism 225.342.8100 www.louisianatravel.com
Monroe–West Monroe CVB 318.387.5691 www.monroe-westmonroe.org
New Orleans Metropolitan CVB 504.566.5011 www.neworleanscvb.com
Shreveport–Bossier City Convention and Tourist Bureau 318.222.9391 www.shreveport-bossier.org
Southwest Louisiana CVB 337.436.9588 www.visitlakecharles.org
St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission 985.892.0520 www.louisiananorthshore.com
West Baton Rouge CVB 225.344.2920 www.westbatonrouge.net
