Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, the world’s original and largest Cajun and Zydeco music festival, will kick off its weekend-long celebration with cultural trailblazer Zachary Richard.
Zachary Richard. Photo by Philip Gould
Festivals Acadiens et Créoles is an annual festival held in Lafayette, Louisiana, celebrating the region’s rich Cajun and Creole heritage. Since the first festival in 1974, the three-day event has become the world’s largest Cajun and Zydeco festival, attracting visitors from across the globe. Festivals Acadiens et Créoles features performances by local musicians, cultural workshops, and culinary experiences. The event showcases local artisans, providing an immersive and authentic celebration of Acadiana’s vibrant traditions.
A performer at the second Tribute To Cajun Music concert in 1975, Richard returns to open this year’s event on October 10–12, 2025, at Girard Park in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Friday night’s festivities will also feature Rusty Metoyer & the Zydeco Crush. On Saturday and Sunday, the lineup continues with a mix of legendary and rising talent, including Rockin’ Dopsie, Wayne Toups, Four Horses, Beau Cheval, and Les Amis du Teche.
“This year, we are celebrating Cinquante ans de Réveille: Et Asteur Quoi?! (Fifty Years of Réveille: And Now What?!), marking half a century since Zachary Richard’s flag-waving performance at the 1975 Tribute to Cajun Music Concert, which eventually evolved into our event,” says Festival founder and director Barry Jean Ancelet. “That same night, Clifton Chenier appeared wearing a crown, proclaiming his role as King of Zydeco. Those bold and provocative moments became a call to action for generations of Cajun and Creole musicians — artists who continue to honor the past while shaping the future of this vibrant, living tradition. It’s both meaningful and gratifying to look back with pride and look ahead with excitement.”
Below is the initial music lineup for the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles 2025 Festival. The full music and event schedule will be released in September 2025. For more information, click here.
