Area guide · Prairieville
Things to do in Prairieville, LA
Things to do in Prairieville start with the Ascension Parish parks, including Oak Grove Park, which reopened in 2025 with an all-abilities playground, and Prairieville Park on Airline Highway. The Galvez branch library is on Highway 42. For bigger events, Lamar-Dixon Expo Center and the Jambalaya Festival are in neighboring Gonzales, and Baton Rouge’s museums are up I-10.
Reviewed by Nicole Gaudet, REALTOR®
Updated October 3, 2026
Parks
Parish parks in Prairieville
Ascension Parish Recreation runs the public parks here. Park rules posted by the parish include no pets, no alcohol and no smoking on park grounds.
| Park | What is there |
|---|---|
| Oak Grove Park | All-abilities playground with a poured-in-place surface, wheelchair ramp to the elevated play structures and a wide slide; basketball court; community center for about 75 people that can be rented. Reopened in 2025 after a $1 million renovation. Open daily, sunrise to sunset. |
| Prairieville Park | Children’s play area, basketball court, refreshment stand with restrooms and two barbecue pavilions with grills. Home to adult softball leagues. About a quarter mile east of the Prairieville post office on Airline Highway. |
| Paula Park | Six small lighted ball fields used for T-ball, two concession stands, restrooms, a play area and two barbecue pavilions. |
| Southwood Park | Lighted baseball field, basketball court, barbecue pavilion, concession stand and playground, at the back of the Southwood Village subdivision. |
Rentals and program sign-ups go through the parish’s recreation self-service portal, linked from the Recreation department page.
Sources: Ascension Parish Recreation; Ascension Parish park rules; WAFB, Oak Grove Park playground reopening (April 2, 2025); Louisiana Office of Tourism listing, Oak Grove Community Center & Playground; Louisiana Office of Tourism listing, Prairieville Park & Playground; Louisiana Office of Tourism listing, Paula Park & Playground; Louisiana Office of Tourism listing, Southwood Park & Play Ground.
Library
The Galvez branch library
Prairieville’s public library is the Galvez branch of the Ascension Parish Library, one of five branches in the parish.
Sources: Ascension Parish Library, branches.
Events nearby
Events at Lamar-Dixon and the Jambalaya Festival
Both are in neighboring Gonzales.
Lamar-Dixon Expo Center
- 9039 S. St. Landry Ave., Gonzales, LA 70737
- 247 acres with arenas, barns, a banquet hall, an RV park, an athletic complex and fishing ponds
- The October 2026 calendar lists a truck show, a monster truck tour, a cat club show and the Baton Rouge Home Show on October 31
Jambalaya Festival
- Gonzales has been called the “Jambalaya Capital of the World” since 1968, per WBRZ
- The 59th annual Jambalaya Festival ran May 21–24, 2026
- The festival centers on a jambalaya cooking competition
The parish also runs the AP Food Truck Court at 607 E. Worthey Street in Gonzales, with rotating food trucks and live music.
Sources: Lamar-Dixon Expo Center; WBRZ, 59th Jambalaya Festival; Ascension Parish, AP Food Truck Court.
Shopping
Shopping close by
An outlet center in neighboring Gonzales.
Tanger Outlets Gonzales, 2100 S. Tanger Blvd., Gonzales, LA 70737. Check the center’s site for current stores and hours.
Sources: Tanger Outlets Gonzales.
Day trips
Baton Rouge day trips
Baton Rouge is up I-10 from Prairieville. Two stops with official details we could confirm:
LSU Rural Life Museum
- 4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge
- 25 acres and 32 historic outbuildings
- Open daily 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, closed on listed holidays; admission charged
- Plan at least two hours, plus time for Windrush Gardens
Louisiana State Capitol
- 450 feet tall, 34 floors
- Dedicated May 16, 1932
- The tallest capitol in the United States, per the Louisiana House of Representatives
- Capitol Park Museum and the Old Governor’s Mansion are listed by Visit Baton Rouge
Sources: LSU Rural Life Museum; Louisiana House of Representatives, Capitol history; Visit Baton Rouge.
Questions
Prairieville: questions
What is there to do in Prairieville, LA?
Prairieville has Ascension Parish parks (Oak Grove, Prairieville, Paula and Southwood parks), the Galvez branch of the Ascension Parish Library, and quick access to events at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center and the Jambalaya Festival in Gonzales. Baton Rouge museums such as the LSU Rural Life Museum are a short drive up I-10.
Ascension Parish; Ascension Parish Library; Lamar-Dixon Expo Center
What parks are in Prairieville, Louisiana?
Ascension Parish operates Oak Grove Park, Prairieville Park, Paula Park and Southwood Park in Prairieville. Oak Grove Park reopened in 2025 after a $1 million renovation with a fully ADA-accessible playground.
WAFB; Louisiana Office of Tourism
Is there a library in Prairieville?
Yes. The Galvez branch of the Ascension Parish Library is at 40300 Hwy. 42, Prairieville, LA 70769.
Ascension Parish Library
When is the Jambalaya Festival in Gonzales?
It is held in late May. The 59th annual festival ran May 21–24, 2026. Gonzales has been called the Jambalaya Capital of the World since 1968.
WBRZ
What events are at Lamar-Dixon Expo Center?
Lamar-Dixon in Gonzales has arenas, barns and a banquet hall on 247 acres and hosts shows and expos. Its October 2026 calendar includes a truck show, a monster truck tour, a cat club show and the Baton Rouge Home Show on October 31. Check its site for the current calendar.
Lamar-Dixon Expo Center
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