Area guide · Lafayette
Things to do in Lafayette, LA
In Lafayette, Vermilionville covers Acadian, Creole and Native American life from 1765 to 1890 on 23 acres along Bayou Vermilion. Downtown has the Lafayette Science Museum, the Acadiana Center for the Arts and the Cathedral of St. John with its Cathedral Oak. For outdoors there are Girard, Moncus and Acadiana parks. Festival International (free) returns April 21–25, 2027. We checked every listing on October 29, 2026.
Reviewed by Nicole Gaudet, REALTOR®
Updated October 29, 2026
Museums and landmarks
Museums, music and history
History museums, a science museum, art museums and live music. Hours and prices change, so confirm on the venue's own site before you go.
| Place | Address | What it is | Hours and admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilionville | 300 Fisher Rd., Lafayette | 23-acre living history museum and folklife park on Bayou Vermilion, 1765–1890 | Tue–Sun 10–4, last admission 3; closed Monday. $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 children. |
| Lafayette Science Museum | 433 Jefferson St., Lafayette, LA 70501 | Hands-on science exhibits and a planetarium | Wed–Fri 9–5, Sat 10–6, Sun 1–6; closed Mon–Tue. $15 adults, $10 ages 2–15. |
| Hilliard Art Museum | 710 East St. Mary Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70503 | Art museum on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette) campus; more than 3,000 works | Tue–Thu 10–5, Fri 10–3, Sat 10–4. $10 adults; under 10 free. |
| Acadiana Center for the Arts | 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette, LA 70501 | Downtown arts center: galleries, live music and performances | Galleries and box office Tue–Sat 9–5 |
| Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist | 914 St. John St., Lafayette, LA 70501 | Cathedral built about 1916, on land donated in 1821 by Jean Mouton; museum on the grounds | Contact the cathedral for hours |
| St. John Cathedral Oak | 515 Cathedral St. | Live oak estimated at more than 450 years old; crown spread 210 feet when measured in 2008 | Outdoors on the cathedral grounds |
| Blue Moon Saloon | 215 E. Convent St., Lafayette, LA 70501 | Downtown live-music venue for Louisiana and Cajun music; weekly Wednesday Cajun jam | Check its site for shows |
Sources: Bayou Vermilion District, visit Vermilionville; Lafayette Travel, Cajun and Creole experiences; Lafayette Science Museum, admission; Hilliard Art Museum, visit; Acadiana Center for the Arts; Louisiana Office of Tourism, Cathedral of St. John; Lafayette Travel, Lafayette's ancient oaks; Blue Moon Saloon.
Parks and outdoors
Parks, trails and the swamp
Hours and prices change, so confirm on the venue's own site before you go.
| Place | Address | What it is | Hours and admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girard Park | 500 Girard Park Dr., Lafayette | 33-acre city park with a 1.25-mile jogging trail, splash pad, disc golf and courts | City park |
| Moncus Park | 2913 Johnston St., Lafayette, LA 70503 | 100-acre park with wooded ravines, Lake Reaux and a Saturday farmers market | Free; daily 5 am–10 pm |
| Acadiana Park & Nature Station | 1205 E. Alexander St., Lafayette, LA 70501 | 117-acre park with a nature station, trails, disc golf and a campground | Trails free, dawn to dusk; Nature Station free |
| Cypress Island Preserve / Lake Martin | Visitor center: 1264 Prairie Hwy., St. Martinville, LA 70582 | About 9,500 acres of cypress-tupelo swamp with a bird rookery and 2.5-mile levee trail; run by The Nature Conservancy | Daylight hours. Levee trail closed June–September for alligator nesting. |
Sources: City of Lafayette, Girard Park; Moncus Park; Louisiana Office of Tourism, Moncus Park; City of Lafayette, Acadiana Park; The Nature Conservancy, Cypress Island.
Festivals
Festivals that come back every year
Dates as posted by the organizers on October 29, 2026.
| Event | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette | February 5–9, 2027 | Lafayette parade routes |
| Festival International de Louisiane | April 21–25, 2027. Free; no ticket required. | Downtown Lafayette |
| Festivals Acadiens et Créoles | October 7–10, 2027 | Girard Park |
| Downtown Alive! | Free Friday concerts in spring and fall, since 1983 | Parc Sans Souci, downtown |
Sources: Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association, parades; Festival International de Louisiane; Festivals Acadiens et Créoles; Downtown Lafayette, Downtown Alive!.
Living in Lafayette
Homes in Lafayette, by the numbers
The housing market in the city, from public data.
Lafayette Parish exempts the first $75,000 of market value once homestead is filed. See taxes, flood facts and how to sell here on our Lafayette page.
Sources: ROAM MLS closed sales, July through September 2026 (based on information from the ROAM MLS for the period 07/01/2026 through 09/30/2026).
Questions
Lafayette: questions
When is Festival International de Louisiane 2027?
April 21 to 25, 2027, in downtown Lafayette. No ticket is required.
Festival International de Louisiane
How much does Vermilionville cost?
General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for children. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, with last admission at 3 pm.
Bayou Vermilion District
What are the Lafayette Science Museum's hours?
Wednesday to Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 6 and Sunday 1 to 6. It is closed Monday and Tuesday.
Lafayette Science Museum
When is Festivals Acadiens et Créoles 2027?
October 7 to 10, 2027, at Girard Park.
Festivals Acadiens et Créoles
Are there free parks with trails in Lafayette?
Yes. Acadiana Park's trails and Nature Station are free, and Moncus Park is free to visit. Girard Park has a 1.25-mile jogging trail.
City of Lafayette; Moncus Park
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