Discover the Bayou State: Top 10 Entertaining Facts about Louisiana for Kids

1. Festivals for Tasty Gumbo and Jambalaya

Where's the roux? Where's the spice? It must be festival time in Louisiana, home to all things gumbo and jambalaya, with bowls of flavor dancing on your taste buds: Louisiana celebrates its delectable cuisine through annual events like the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff in October and Gonzales, known as the "jambalaya capital of the world," hosting the Gonzales Jambalaya Festival, which includes a world championship cooking contest.
Source => southernliving.com

2. Jean Lafitte: Real-Life Pirate Hero

Move over, Captain Jack Sparrow - there's a real pirate hero in these waters: Jean Lafitte, a legendary privateer and smuggler, was given the legal go-ahead by the United States to snatch British ships during the War of 1812. Thanks to Lafitte's swashbuckling skills and knowledge of secret routes, he delivered successful pirate attacks which played a crucial role in winning the Battle of New Orleans for the Americans.
Source => pelicanstateofmind.com

Discover why over 90% of burials in New Orleans' Metairie Cemetery are above ground and how a 19th-century ordinance plays a role in this fascinating tradition. 🎭💀

=> Fun Facts about New-Orleans

3. Louisiana: The Oyster Empire

Feeling a little shellfish? It's no wonder Louisiana residents clam up about the oyster empire in their neighborhood: Louisiana reigns supreme as the oyster capital, accounting for 50% of the nation's harvest and hauling in an impressive 11 million pounds annually, leaving other Gulf states drifting in their oceanic wake!
Source => 225batonrouge.com

4. Mardi Gras: A Roman Party Fusion

Who decided to let the good times roll after too much fruitcake? Ancient Romans, that's who! Behold the soap-opera-like twisted tale of pagan rituals, Christian traditions and tiny trinkets hidden in scrumptious cakes: Mardi Gras, Louisiana's largest and most colorful celebration, actually originated from the wild Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. These festivities blended with Christian traditions, giving birth to the extravagant Carnival season that culminates in Fat Tuesday – a day jam-packed with merrymaking, feasting, and finding baby figurines in king cakes – a custom dating back to the bean-studded harvest treats of Saturnalia. So next time you don a bead-strewn mask, remember to toast to the ancient Romans for this modern-day extravaganza!
Source => thepioneerwoman.com

5. The Soaring Comeback of Brown Pelicans

Step aside, seagulls and pigeons of the sea, the brown pelican is here with its 8-foot wingspan, boasting a sporty neck pouch, and quite the proficiency in high dive headfirst stunts to snatch up fish like a boss: This flying ace serves not only as Louisiana's state bird but also its state animal! Once an endangered species, the brown pelican's population has bounced back through conservation efforts, like one plucky pelican that survived the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 and traveled an impressive 700 miles to reclaim its Louisiana breeding grounds as its very own 'pel-ace' to call home!
Source => a-z-animals.com

6. Meet the Catahoula Leopard Dogs

Paws for a moment, dear reader, and envision a strong yet colorful canine, fearlessly chasing wild pigs through the swamps of Louisiana: Behold the Catahoula Leopard Dog, the state dog of Louisiana, recognized by the United Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service. These varying-hued, muscular dogs possess a unique appearance, excel in hunting wild game, and serve as search and rescue heroes. Beware of their swan song, though, for some canine comrades carry a deaf gene covertly tucked within their DNA.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Music Crawls in the Land of Jazz

What do you get if you cross a saxophone with a crawfish? A jazzy afternoon in Louisiana, of course! In the land where music crawls and grooves, iconic venues like Tipitina’s, Preservation Hall, and Frenchmen Street serve up a spicy stew of jazz and zydeco tunes: From its brass band beatdowns to the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Louisiana is an unbeatable melting pot of musical styles, where everyone's got an alligator in their back pocket and a song in their heart.
Source => deep-south-usa.com

8. Napoleon's Would-Be Safe Haven

If Napoleon walked into a bar, he'd feel right at home in New Orleans: The Napoleon House was originally offered as a safe haven for the diminutive dictator during his exile on St. Helena, but he never made it there. Instead, this historic gem became a watering hole for artists and writers and has been under the stewardship of the Impastato family since 1914 and Ralph Brennan from 2015 onwards.
Source => napoleonhouse.com

9. Cajun Culture: Food, Music, and Chicken Chasing

If you're feeling blue, Bayou a melody in Louisiana: Cajun culture revolves around good food and music as the essentials of life, with weekends devoted to family gatherings, accordion and fiddle tunes, and mouth-watering gumbo and crawfish dishes, all topped off with a unique Courir de Mardi Gras festival where participants don hilarious costumes, chase runaway chickens, and collect gumbo ingredients for a one-of-a-kind celebration.
Source => allroadsnorth.com

10. Ghostly Cemetery Tours in New Orleans

If you're ever in need of a "boo-tiful" tour in New Orleans, don't worry, they've got you covered: many historic cemeteries like St. Louis, St. Roch, and Lafayette, some dating back to the 1800s, host daytime tours, delving into the spooky history and ghostly folklore that make these resting places the talk of the town.
Source => ghostcitytours.com