'The Cajun Music Capital Of The World' Is A Lively Louisiana Town Near Lafayette With Festivals, Food, And Fun

When most people picture Mardi Gras, they think of parades, beads, and Louisiana's Most Famed Street, a vibrant adult playground of unique entertainment. In rural Louisiana, however, smaller cities like Mamou celebrate Mardi Gras in their own unique way, rooted in local traditions that have been passed down for generations. Deep in the Evangeline Parish of the state, Mamou is known as the "Cajun Music Capital of the World" and is famous for preserving the music and traditions that define Cajun culture.

The town celebrates Courir de Mardi Gras, its own unique spin on Mardi Gras, a term that translates to "Fat Tuesday Run." Year-round, you can sample the savory seasoned dishes at the city's few but excellent restaurants for classics like gumbo and boudin. At Fred's Lounge on Saturday mornings, the party starts early, when the beers crack open at 8 a.m. and you can Zydeco dance your heart out until the afternoon.

Most visitors reach Mamou by car, since it's a small rural town in south-central Louisiana without its own commercial airport. The nearest major hub is Lafayette Regional Airport, which is a similar city where you can experience Cajun culture with New Orleans-like vibes. The airport is about an hour's drive away and offers connections to larger airports like Houston, Atlanta, and Dallas.

Mamou has a handful of annual events that put its unique Cajun traditions on full display. The Courir de Mardi Gras is what the town is most famous for and is a big part of its Cajun identity, something the community takes pride in. This rural spin on Carnival is a multi-day event that is rooted in French medieval history. The tradition begins with the making of colorful, traditional costumes.

On Mardi Gras, men in costume, some on foot and others on horseback, stop by houses to request ingredients. As the day goes on, the celebration grows more and more wild, with ingredients like rice and vegetables being donated, along with plenty of dancing and drinking. The event ends when the final ingredient is collected. Everyone chases a chicken, and after it's caught, it's cooked to make a huge pot of gumbo for all participants to share. The party doesn't end there. It continues well into the night and ends on Fat Tuesday. Tourists are welcome to watch and join in on the party both during and after the festivities. For more revelry, head 10 miles south to Eunice, another one of Louisiana's "Prairie Cajun Capitals," which is a culinary paradise full of big flavors and scenic countryside charm.

That's not all Mamou has to offer, either. The town swells in size every September when the Cajun Music Festival takes place. For two days, the town hosts a nonstop party with traditional Louisiana folk music from local legends and musicians playing upbeat tunes with accordions, fiddles, and guitars. If you're new to Cajun culture, consider taking a Zydeco or Cajun dancing workshop where they will show you all the moves. Plus, there are traditional games you won't find anywhere else, such as passe partout saw contest, nail driving contests, washboard tournaments, potato sack races, boudin eating contests, and a greased pole climbing contest.

Mamou may be a small town with just a few restaurants, but the flavors here are bold and showcase the regional food, the Krazy Cajun Cafe serves up favorites like gumbo, po'boys, and Cajun boils loaded with shrimp, corn on the cob, potatoes, sausage, and flavorful spices. At many restaurants and bars you can also sample T Boy's Boudin, a savory pork sausage stuffed with rice, veggies, and often served with cracklins.

For that festival-energy year-round, head to Fred's Lounge. At first glance, it might seem like just your average dive bar, but it's been a hometown Cajun icon for more than 75 years. Since 1946, the party began at 9 a.m. every Saturday, and in 1962 a local radio broadcast would record the soirée, with an announcer speaker entirely in Cajun French. Today, during the week the bar opens at 4 p.m., but the Saturday tradition is still being kept alive today; the alcohol begins to flow at 8 a.m. and the party rages on with happy hours, dancing, and live bands until it winds down in the early afternoon.