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The year 2022 was a blast, but we believe Downtown Lafayette is only getting better in 2023. That’s why we’ve created a list of 23 things to do next time you find yourself downtown or if you’re planning a trip to visit. From shopping, live music, incredible food, art, there’s no shortage of things to do downtown this year!
Little did Acadiana know that on Friday, April 8th, 1983, history would be made in Downtown Lafayette. It all started when a group of people got together to try and figure out how to bring life into Downtown Lafayette. Downtown Development Director Cathy Webre and her team had a hunch – “Give them music, and they will come.” Downtown Alive! was then born on a tiny stage in the middle of Jefferson Street with a performance from Beausoleil.
What began in 2019 as an effort to spark holiday joy continues today as a significant part of Downtown Lafayette’s holiday series. Every year, Jefferson Street and Parc International are transformed into magical holiday destinations for visitors and residents of Lafayette to enjoy throughout the entire month of December.
As we are approaching the holidays, the team at Downtown Lafayette Unlimited and Downtown Development Authority would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving. We are so thankful to be a part of such an incredible downtown community and are looking forward to celebrating Small Business Saturday by shopping small this holiday season!
Last month, Lafayette Travel welcomed attendees from around the world for the TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange) conference. TBEX is the largest conference and networking event for travel bloggers, online travel journalists, media content creators, and travel brands. This year, the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole country, Lafayette, was chosen as the host city for the North American conference. It was a pleasure connecting with TBEX attendees on walking tours of our downtown district, and we were thrilled to welcome so many new visitors to the place we get to call home!
We have finally gotten a taste of better weather over here in the Cajun capital, and it’s time to take advantage of it! Looking for things to do with your family this fall in Lafayette? Look no further, because downtown has you covered. From live music, indoor entertainment, to fun day trips that we know your family will love, we’ve got something for everyone. Whether you’re a Lafayette native or visiting from out of town, be sure to mark your calendars because there is a full lineup of activities to enjoy this season.
Downtown is the place where Acadiana comes to celebrate culture AND do business! Here at Downtown Lafayette Unlimited our goal is to help orchestrate these celebrations. Not only are we celebrating our community this fall with events such as Downtown Alive! and ArtWalk but over the past month, we have celebrated new ownership of beloved historic buildings as well as 10-year business milestones and more!
Typically, when you think about a city’s downtown area the first thing that comes to mind is “hustle and bustle.” What appears to be organized chaos in a large metropolitan area. People moving in every direction, sky rises on every block, and sometimes an overwhelming sense of loneliness despite being surrounded by so many people. However, I felt a unique sense of home my first time walking down Jefferson Street in Downtown Lafayette. I was welcomed with warm smiles and “have a great day!” on just about every corner. Not at all what I was anticipating on my first day of work when being tasked to go walk around this new city I now get to call home. Whew, what a relief!
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Drainage construction will begin in downtown Lafayette at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Lee Avenue in front of the old city hall building, according to a spokesperson Lafayette Consolidated Government’s (LCG) Public Works Department.
Read Clair Taylor’s article for The Acadiana Advocate here.
Festival International de Louisiane is set to take over Downtown Lafayette this weekend, converting the city center into a world music mecca like no other. The streets will be packed with throngs of sandal clad weekend warriors—over 300,000 people attend the festival each year, coming from all over the country and around the globe. Everyone knows the bands they want to see and where the stage is, but there’s more to Festival than just the music. This guide to Festival International’s unofficial and off-the-beaten-path events will help you to get the most out of a full week of Downtown festivities.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricanes Laura and Delta impacted the construction, the developers behind the old federal courthouse redevelopment in Downtown Lafayette knew the project would take a lot of work. J. Dyke Nelson, the architect behind the project, said he had to wear a hazmat suit the first time he came out and saw the property.