Make This Week a Little Sweeter at the Sugar Cane Festival in New Iberia

Everything's a little sweeter the week at the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival and Fair on Sept. 26 - 30, 2012 in New Iberia, Louisiana. For 71 years, the festival has brought together sugar producing parishes to honor the sugar industry with royalty, sweet treats, fun and dancing in the streets. 

The Carnival runs Wednesday, September 26 through Sunday, September 30 with 14 acres of rides and games for all ages, at the Louisiana PepperPlex, 607 Sucrose Dr., off Hwy. 14 in New Iberia.

On Friday, people dress like farmers for Sugar Cane Growers Day and hold a special service and blessing of the crop at the Sugar Cane Festival Building. Local merchants and residents add to the fun, decorating their homes and shops with special signs, designs and sugar cane stalks.

Weekend activities include a food court, 4-H sugar cookery contest, Bayou Girl Scouts bake-off, coronation of Queen Sugar, judging of best decorated storefronts and homes, sugar artistry display & tasting, garden/flower, sugarcane, photography, and arts & crafts exhibits, and a livestock show at SugArena.

Parades will begin on Friday with the Boat Parade followed by fireworks. The Children's Parade will roll on Saturday, preceded by a car show. At the Louisiana Sugar Parade on Sunday, King Sucrose, Queen Sugar, and other Sugar Parish Queens, will cruise on New Iberia's award winning Main Street.

Fais do do's will also spice things up at Bouligny Plaza on Main Street. Thursday night kicks off with free entertainment from Cajun Throw Down and Spank the Monkey. On Friday, revelers will dance to the tunes of Jamie Bergeron & The Kicken' Cajuns and 5th Avenue. Saturday's headliners include Colby Boudreaux & Southern Beat and Bag of Donuts. There will be a $5 cover charge on Friday and Saturday.

Get the full schedule of events here.