Festivals
The Cotton Festival and Le Tournoi de la Ville Platte. Each second full weekend in October, Ville Platte hosts the Louisiana Cotton Festival and Le Tournoi de la Ville Platte. The festivities begin on Tuesday evening when authentic Acadian music featuring the French accordion, fiddle, and "te-fer" (iron triangle) are enjoyed at the Contradanse. The evening also features a fifteen-minute French square dance performed by young and old, followed by the crowning of the Le Roi and La Reine (king and queen) of the local nursing home. On Wednesday afternoon, the local 4-H members hold a cookery contest and the Cotton Pickin' Pet Show. There is a carnival all week long for the children to enjoy.
On Friday night, everyone enjoys a fais-do-do dance with music by local bands. Saturday morning, the lovely ladies vying to become Cotton Queen and visiting queens are introduced at the King's Reception. The Cotton King, who is crowned during this event , reigns over the many activities of the festival weekend and is an escort for the Cotton Queen, who is crowned at the pageant later Saturday night. The talented young singers known as the Cotton Pickers entertain during all festival events.
On Sunday morning, a beautiful harvest mass is celebrated to give thanks to our Creator for the bountiful crops. That afternoon, a colorful parade with floats, visiting queens, marching bands and the Tournoi riders in their silver knightly regalia winds through the streets of Ville Platte.
After the parade, the riders run Le Tournoi. Originally begun in the 1800s and then revived in 1952, the Tournoi (French for tournament) draws on the ancient tradition of jousting. Riders representing the Knights of the Round Table carry lances that they use to try to collect seven small iron rings (representing evils that destroy cotton) located around a quarter-mile circular track. The Tournoi Queen accepts the winning knight in the Ball that evening concluding the festival.
For more information, contact City Hall at 337-363-2939 or Kelli Ritter-Buller at (337) 363-6367.
Le Festival de la Viande Boucanée (Smoked Meat Festival). Ville Platte bills itself as "The Smoked Meat Capital of the World." This two-day festival, held the last full weekend in June, includes smoked meat cooking contests, other demonstrations of cultural traditions, and a variety of musical groups that play throughout the festival. Cajun bands perform along with rock and roll bands and rhythm and blues groups. The cookoff, which includes both amateur and professional divisions, takes place on Saturday. The festival, which is held at the Ville Platte Civic Center and Grounds, is promoted by Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter No. 632. For more information, contact Fred Pitre at
337-363-6700.
Other Festivals