Festivals Acadiens et Créoles Celebrates 50 Years With Zachary Richard Headlining at Girard Park
LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA — The heart of Cajun and Creole music will beat stronger than ever this fall as Festivals Acadiens et Créoles returns October 10–12, 2025 to Girard Park for its 50th anniversary. The milestone celebration will open with a performance by Louisiana music legend Zachary Richard, a figure deeply tied to the festival’s origins.
A Homecoming for a Cajun Music Icon
Richard first appeared at the second Tribute to Cajun Music Concert in 1975, a landmark event that helped spark the movement to preserve and promote Cajun and Creole cultural heritage. This year, he’ll launch the festival on Friday night alongside Rusty Metoyer & the Zydeco Crush, setting the tone for a weekend steeped in Louisiana tradition.
A Lineup Packed With Local Legends
The celebration continues Saturday and Sunday with performances from:
- Rockin’ Dopsie
- Wayne Toups
- Four Horses
- Beau Cheval
- Les Amis du Teche
Festival founder and director Barry Jean Ancelet reflected on the event’s journey, saying the theme “Cinquante ans de Réveille: Et Asteur Quoi?!” (“Fifty Years of Réveille: And Now What?!”) honors a half-century of artists “who continue to honor the past while shaping the future of this vibrant, living tradition”.
From 1975 to 2025: A Cultural Call to Action
Ancelet recalled that same 1975 night when Clifton Chenier wore a crown and proclaimed himself the King of Zydeco. Those moments, he said, became a cultural rallying cry for generations of musicians. Today, the festival remains a space where history, pride, and creativity converge.
Event Details
- Dates: October 10–12, 2025
- Location: Girard Park, Lafayette, Louisiana
- Full Schedule: To be announced in September 2025
- Admission: Free and open to the public
What’s your favorite Festivals Acadiens memory? Share your stories — or the songs you’re hoping to hear from Zachary Richard — at ChicagoMusicGuide.com.