The city of Baton Rouge offers plenty of seasonal events that keep the community and visitors engaged throughout the year. Although you might not be able to make it to all of them, we at the Armstrong wanted to share our list of seasonal events you won’t want to miss. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the mood for holiday parades or live music, Baton Rouge has just the thing to help you make it through the season. So get up, get out, and experience Baton Rouge like never before!
Spring Events in Baton Rouge
There’s no better way to start off the year than the spring events in Baton Rouge. Check out how Baton Rouge gets things started at any of the following events:
The Louisiana Marathon
900 North 3rd Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802
The Louisiana Marathon is a great way to start the year in an epic way. The marathon offers different races to accommodate every participate (Half Marathon, Marathon, Kids Marathon, etc.). There’s also plenty of celebration, music, and Baton Rouge culture to enjoy after the races are over.
Krew of Mystic Mardi Gras Parade
River Road and Government Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802
How about taking the party out to the streets of Baton Rouge. The Mystic Mardi Gras Parade has been a yearly tradition that has been creating rich memories since the 70’s. It is one of the longest running parades in the city that is for all of Baton Rouge and not just specific communities.
Krew of Southdowns Mardi Gras Parade
1676 Glasgow Avenue Baton Rouge, LA 70808
The Krew of Southdowns Mardi Gras Parade offers a family friendly environment and plenty of fun to enjoy. From start to finish, the parade features plenty of live music and cheer to get you going. Most of the floats and marchers are covered in bright lights that make things more interesting. Just remember that everything is handmade, which adds on to the significance of the whole extravaganza.
Baton Rouge Blues Festival
200 North Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70802
This awesome recurring event is completely free and allows Baton Rouge to check out an impressive lineup and plenty of blues legends. The Blues Festival has plenty of entertainment ranging from outdoor and indoor settings for everyone to enjoy. Keep an eye out because you never know when you can run into any of the musical legends!
Summer Events in Baton Rouge
The fun in Baton Rouge doesn’t end there, the hot months of June, July and August have a great lineup of seasonal events to attend. These summer activities are definitely worth making a day trip to the capital city:
LA Sports Fest
BREC’s Farr Park in Baton Rouge, LA
The LA Sports Festival ignites the most competitive spirit you will find in the summer. The festival features obstacle courses races, running, hiking, and other competitions to help keep you active and spectate other athletes. Of course, everything is done for the love of sports and communion so there’s also plenty of music, food, and festival activities.
Oyster Festival
Downtown by Galvez Plaza, Baton Rouge, LA
The Oyster Festival is one of the newest recurring festivals to the Baton Rouge area. This unique event features everything oyster, even the pearls! You’ll have a blast going up and down the Baton Rouge riverfront and exploring what kinds of goodies this celebration can bring up.
Capital City Seafood Festival
Airline Highway Park/Fairgrounds, Baton Rouge, LA
The Capital City Seafood Festival marks the end of the summer season and the beginning of the fall. The celebration features the best of fresh local seafood, music, and plenty of activities for all members of the community to enjoy. It’s the best time to get the tastiest sample of the south’s cuisine surrounded by a great environment and wonderful people.
Fall Events in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge makes the most of the Fall and fills the city with music, festivals, and fun. Check out what seasonal events the sweater weather has to offer:
Greater Baton Rouge State Fair
Airline Highway Park/Fairgrounds, Baton Rouge, LA
The Baton Rouge State Fair features all the thrills, chills, and family excitement you need for the fall. This Baton Rouge seasonal event usually comes around the end of October and lasts through November every year. Apart from the great rides and cotton candy, you’ll run into an impressive gospel, rock, bluegrass, country, blues, zydeco performers that can get any crowd going. Just remember every day features a different special guest, so be sure to keep up with the fair’s calendar.
Cajun Country Corn Maze
40833 LA-16, Amite City, LA 70422
Just under an hour drive from Baton Rouge is the Cajun Country Corn Maze. This has been one of the top fall attractions near the Baton Rouge area for the last couple of decades. The corn maze makes its way through a family-owned farm and features a petting zoo, pig races, duck races, and other family-friendly activities that won’t disappoint.
13th Gate Haunted House
832 St Philip St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
What’s the fall season without a good haunted house? The 13th Gate Haunted House has 13 different areas that are sure to do the trick and spook you and your friends. Every year seems to bring scarier ideas to the haunted house as it has over 100 professional actors and great makeup artists that help create the best haunted house scene in the state.
Hot Air Balloon Festival
9039 S St Landry Ave, Gonzales, LA 70737
The Hot Air Balloon Festival in Gonzales is one of the most beautiful scenes you just have to witness in person. Many hot air balloons are taken into the air and race for the top prize. There’s plenty of unique hot air balloons, food, rides, and live entertainment for a day trip away from Baton Rouge.
Winter Events in Baton Rouge
Spend the holidays in Baton Rouge the best way possible. Go out and enjoy all the seasonal events around town and help spread the holiday cheer:
Downtown Christmas Parade
Downtown, Baton Rouge, LA 70801
A holiday tradition since 1949, the Baton Rouge Christmas Parade drawn tens of thousands to their television screens and the downtown area every December. The parade usually includes around 80 entries including floats, marching bands, celebrities, local businesses, and other fun displays. It’s a great event to attend with your family and friends.
Holiday Lights at Baton Rouge General
8585 Picardy Avenue Corner of Picardy and Bluebonnet Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Who doesn’t love holiday lights? The Holiday Lights at Baton Rouge General is an awesome light display for all members of the community to enjoy. The light display usually opens around mid-December and features over 100,000 lights, live music (on select days), local food trucks, pictures with Santa, and other holiday favorites. One of the most anticipated displays is the 9-foot Cajun alligator light display that represents the Baton Rouge community spirit.
Zoo Lights
3601 Thomas Road Baton Rouge, LA 70807
The Baton Rouge Zoo also hosts a popular light show of its own. A fun walk through the zoo allows visitors to witness light displays of their favorite Zoo animals and other fun family activities.
New Year’s at Red Stick Revelry
200 North Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70802
There’s no better spot to welcome the New Year in Baton Rouge. Head over to Red Stick Revelry right before the New Year if you want to celebrate in style. Red Stick Revelry features a live concert that starts around 7 p.m., fireworks, and other free festivities that will have you going back next year.
Ongoing Events
There are also plenty of ongoing events in Baton Rouge you won’t want to miss. These are perfect for visitors and locals who are looking to know more about the area’s culture:
Mid City Rising
2678 Government Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Mid City Rising is the perfect monthly event for both artists and art enthusiasts to get together and enjoy the best in music and live entertainment. Plenty of musicians and artists showcase their own work and put on some of the best live performances in the city. There’s also delicious food to help make things even better!
Live in the Lounge! Musical Performances
7000 Bluebonnet Boulevard Baton Rouge, LA 70810
You can enjoy great musical performances and an upscale dinner every other Wednesday at the Tallulah. The venue has some great entertainment lineups that any local and visitor will enjoy on a Wednesday night in Baton Rouge.
Did you like our article about Baton Rouge Seasonal Events? Don’t miss out on our blog Outdoor Fun in Baton Rouge!