May 2026’s calendar of can’t-miss events around the Capital Region

May 1

Peel and eat as many crawfish as you can at the Crawfish King Cookoff downtown. More than 10,000 pounds of mudbugs will be boiled as teams compete in support of Junior Achievement and Big Buddy. crawfishkingcookoff.com

May 2

Lace up your best kicks for the Sneaker Soiree at L’Auberge Casino Hotel. This fundraising gala benefits young people participating in the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge’s flagship mentorship program. 100blackmenmetrobr.org

May 2

Go off to the races at the Mint Julep Jamboree at L’Auberge Casino. Guests are invited to wear Kentucky Derby-inspired attire as they enjoy live music, craft cocktails and food trucks on the lawn. lbatonrouge.com

May 8

As the days warm up, Baton Rouge artists bring as much heat as our climate at the Mid City arts and culture fest Hot Art Cool Nights, with local businesses hosting vendors selling a variety of goods. midcitymerchantsbr.org

May 9

Night Market BTR is back to showcase the creativity of local artists, vendors, musicians and chefs. At this food-forward festival, crowds gather in front of the Capitol to celebrate Asian culture and watch live performances. nightmarketbtr.com

May 13

Jazz musician Vincent Herring brings his band, Something Else!, and his saxophone to Manship Theatre as part of the River City Jazz Masters series. manshiptheatre.org

May 16

As part of the American Daylily Society’s Region 13 meeting weekend, the group welcomes visitors to a Garden Tour of three private daylily gardens in Baton Rouge, St. Amant and Gonzales, as well as the Independence Botanical Gardens. adsregion13.weebly.com

May 17

The Friends of Hilltop Arboretum are giving an inside look at private, lush gardens in some of Baton Rouge’s neighborhoods. The 2026 Spring Garden Tour will feature home landscapes in Southdowns, Old Goodwood, Glenmore Place and Walden.
lsu.edu/hilltop

May 23

Two iconic artists are taking their joint tour to Tiger Stadium. See Jelly Roll and Post Malone share the stage and perform their biggest hits as part of the Death Valley Live series. lsusports.net

May 23 + 24

Sample downhome dishes at the Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival at the Main Library at Goodwood. The event features a cooking contest plus a lineup of live music. hitcitydigital.wixsite.com/brsoulfoodfest

On the road

This article was originally published in the May 2026 issue of 225 Magazine.