LAFAYETTE  INTERNATIONAL
CENTER  CALENDAR

 revised 7-15-25

august

Festival Interceltique de Lorient, France

Aug 1-10 | Lorient, (Brittany) France

     This is the largest Celtic festival in the world, with over 950,000 attendees and over 5,000 musicians and other presenters, and over 300 performances on 12 stages. The 2025 edition will honor “our cousins from America.”

      A group of Lafayette musicians will lead the Louisiana delegation to the Festival.

      Contact Sami Parbhoo for more information at separbhoo@LafayetteLA.gov

Welcome Reception for UL International Students

Thursday, August 21 | 4:00-6:00 PM | UL Alumni Center | Lafayette, LA 

            Annual welcome and orientation to Lafayette for arriving international students of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, co-hosted by City-Parish Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet and UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie. Reception following. A joint project of the LCG Mayor-President’s Office, the Lafayette International Center, the UL Lafayette President’s Office; and the UL Division of Global Engagement.

      Contact Christophe Pilut for details, 337-291-5474;  clpilut@LafayetteLA.gov.

La Semaine Acadienne XVIII in Normandy, France

Aug 7-15 | Normandy, France

     This festival takes place every year in several towns on the Côte de Nacre, near the D-Day landing sites in Normandy. It was created to pay homage to the Acadian soldiers who landed on June 6, 1944, on the Normandy beaches. The festival culminates on August 15, the national holiday of the Acadians, joining like celebrations on this side of the Atlantic.

      Visit www.semaineacadienne.net 

october

AIMF (international association of mayors of French-speaking cities)
Executive Board meeting

Oct 10-13 |  Lafayette and New Orleans

     The AIMF (International Association of French-speaking Mayors) is an operating agency for urban development comprised of members from 48 countries or governments. The goal is to establish close cooperation in all areas of municipal activities. Its missions are to strengthen local democracy, building municipal capacities, and support local populations. The Association focuses on the domains of health, culture, youth and education, urban development, training, and municipal infrastructures.

      Led by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, this network of elected officials meets to discuss topics of interest related to infrastructure, economic and cultural development.  

Festivals Acadiens et Créoles

Oct 10-12 | Girard Park, Lafayette, Louisiana

      The first Tribute to Cajun Music in 1974 took Cajun and Creole music out of the dancehalls and onto a concert stage at Blackham Coliseum. Fifty-one years later, the tribute has grown into a three-day celebration of music, food, art, crafts, museum exhibits, symposiums, film screenings and more. The celebration is a giant among Lafayette’s festivals, attracting people of all ages, of many different nationalities from all over the world. The theme of this year’s festival: TBD. Admission is free.

      For details, visit https://www.festivalsacadiens.com/

GRA 2020 (Grand Reveil Acadien – Great Acadian Awakening)  Organized by Louisiane-Acadie and its partners

Oct. 11-18 | Multiple locations in southwest Louisiana

      GRA 2025 is a 9-day, multi-parish experience celebrating the lasting cultural impact of the Acadian people. Daily events will be held in October 2025 (check back for specific details as we draw closer to October) across Acadiana. Started in 2011, the purpose of this event is to encourage Acadians from around the world to continue to advance our unique lifestyle through shared memories, French speaking events, bonding and fellowship over Cajun food and music, and the general celebration of our shared culture. 

      For details, visit https://www.louisianeacadie.com/

november

ADIPEC (Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference)   

Nov. 3-6 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

      The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) is one of the world’s most influential events for the oil and gas industry. As a premium exhibition platform ADIPEC enables professionals from around the world to do business and grow.

      Each year, ADIPEC provides one of the most important channels to do business and exchange information, attracting Energy Ministers, global CEO’s and leading decision makers across the 4 days of business discussions and knowledge exchange.

      ADIPEC covers a cross section of the industry and is committed to help the growing international energy community bridge gaps by bringing oil and gas professionals face to face. From C-level, senior decision makers, government leaders, engineers and procurement experts with sole or joint purchasing authority, the whole supply chain meet to showcase and discuss new technologies and business opportunities.

      For more details and to register visit: www.adipec.com

december

International Workboat Show 2025

December 3-5, 2025 | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA

      The International WorkBoat Show is a trade-only conference and expo for commercial vessel owners, operators and builders as well as the vendors and suppliers that serve them.

       More info at http://www.workboatshow.com

january 2026

Welcome Reception for UL International Students

TBD | TBD | UL Alumni Center

      Annual welcome and orientation to Lafayette for arriving international students of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, co-hosted by City-Parish Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet and UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie. Reception following. A joint project of the LCG Mayor-President’s Office, the Lafayette International Center, the UL Lafayette President’s Office; and the UL Division of Global Engagement.

      Contact Christophe Pilut for details, 337-291-5474;  clpilut@LafayetteLA.gov

Cinema on the Bayou

TBD | Lafayette and Opelousas, various venues 

     The annual Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival, screening films, including French Language films, along with welcoming filmmakers and other film industry professionals from across the United States and around the world. 

      For more details on the 2025 edition, visit CinemaontheBayou.com.

MARCH

La Boule Cadienne de Lafayette International Acadiana Pétanque Festival

TBD | in Lafayette, LA 

      Pétanque is a French game with roots in ancient history. Similar to horseshoes and bocce ball, the game requires precision, finesse and a great deal of concentration that may not be apparent to the casual spectator. This popular lawn game is played throughout the world, both for fun and as serious competition.

      The International Pétanque Tournament will take place in March, in Girard Park, in Lafayette. Both before and after the tournament, Festival organizers and participants will take part in a number of educational and social events in and around Lafayette to promote the sport.

      The local pétanque club is a group of people who share a love of the outdoors, good conversation, and a healthy appetite for fun. They play on a regular monthly schedule, but also whenever the weather is nice and the mood strikes. They are affiliated with Alliance Française de Lafayette, whose mission it is to promote the French language, so they frequently do their socializing in French. They play as a club every fourth Sunday of the month from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, meeting at the public pétanque courts in Girard Park. The courts are located in the northeast corner of the park, across from the rear of the UL Alumni Center. Parking is conveniently located along the one-way street behind the center. Beginners are most welcome.

      For details and a full schedule of this year’s events, contact Mike LeBlanc at 337-654-9467 or leblanc.mike@me.com , or visit https://www.petanquelafayette.org/

International Francophone Day of French Language and Culture

Mar 20 |  in and around Lafayette

International Francophonie Month celebrating French Language and Culture

      March is Le Mois de la Francophonie, a global celebration of the diversity of those who speak French. There are over 369 million French speakers on the planet. In 1970, the OIF (International Organization of French language and culture) established March 20 as International Francophonie Day (French: Journée internationale de la Francophonie), to celebrate the French language and Francophone culture. This was expanded in 1995 by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication to span a week or more, and now the celebration extends to the entire month of March.

      A variety of events will take place in and around Lafayette, including the raising of the OIF flag at Lafayette City-Parish Hall, and other events sponsored by Vermilionville, CODOFIL, and others.

      Contact Dave Domingue for details.  (337) 291-5474;  dadomingue@LafayetteLA.gov

Celtic Bayou Festival

TBD | TBD | TBD

      This year at the festival, the Breton region of France and its Celtic heritage will be highlighted with music, food, culture and drink from the region. There will be talks on language and history and its connections to Acadiana and Celtic culture.

      For details, visit http://www.celticbayoufestival.com

Lafayette Holi Festival  

TBD | 11:00 AM Girard Park, Lafayette, Louisiana

      In India, the Holi Festival is the festival of colors. For decades the members of the Acadiana Indian Association celebrated the festival in their backyards, but since 2011, they have brought it to the community. Hosted each year by the Association, the festival is held each year on the last Saturday in March. The celebration is held to signify the victory of good over evil and the arrival of Spring.

      The festival is free to attend and open to all ages, with bags of colors available for purchase. It features the iconic throw of color powders, live music, dance performances, water balloons, food, drinks, and more.

april

Cycle Zydeco

April 8-12 | South Louisiana

      Cycle Zydeco is a five-day casual touring ride in South Louisiana. The Louisiana’s Cajun and Créole Cycling Festival takes place every year during the week after Easter.  Experience up to 5 days of Cajun and Créole culture, including plenty of food, live music, swamp tours, crawfish boils, and more.

      More info at www.cyclezydeco.org 

Festival International de Louisiane

Apr 22-26 | downtown Lafayette, Louisiana

      Festival International de Louisiane is the largest International music and arts festival in the United States with a special emphasis on the connection between Acadiana and the Francophone world, having an estimated economic impact of $49m annually. With over 300,000 festival-goers every year, this annual festival features musical artists from over 20 countries along with workshops, exhibits, visual art, theater and other forms of performance arts. The 5-day festival is held in April transforming downtown Lafayette, Louisiana into an entertainment mecca.

      For details, visit https://festivalinternational.org/information/

International Achievement Award ceremony and reception

Thursday, April 23 | Lafayette International Center | Lafayette, Louisiana

      Established in 1998, the Award is presented annually to honor an individual, organization or company that has significantly enhanced Acadiana’s international reputation. Primary consideration is accorded to individuals whose activities have helped draw economic benefits to the Lafayette area. By invitation.

MAY

Offshore Technology Conference (OTC)

May 4-7 | Houston, TX

      Largest petroleum show in the US. Christophe represents the International Center, and prospects for trade leads, working with LEDA, USCS, OneAcadiana, LAGCOE, and Louisiana Economic Development. 

      For information, contact Christophe at clpilut@LafayetteLA.gov or 337-201-5493.

Farewell Reception for UL International Students

TBD | TBD | UL Alumni Center | Lafayette, LA 

      Annual farewell given to graduating international students of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, co-hosted by UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie and City-Parish Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet. Graduating students are invested as Goodwill Ambassadors representing Lafayette, followed by a reception. A joint project of the UL Division of Global Engagement, the UL Alumni Association, the LCG Mayor-President’s Office, the Lafayette International Center, and the UL Lafayette President’s Office.