Road trip: Creole Heritage Festival, Festivals Acadiens

The 15th-annual Creole Heritage Celebration at Paragon Casino Resort is a two-day celebration of culture Oct. 9-10 in Marksville. Visitors can participate in genealogy sessions and get details on preserving the Creole language, as well as experience zydeco blues music from Grammy Award-winning Terrance Simien. Contact Janet Colson at (318) 357-6685 for details. If that’s not enough culture for you, head to Lafayette for the Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, an entire weekend of great music and food since 1972. Household names such as Lost Bayou Ramblers, Balfa Toujours, the Savoy Family Band and Zachary Richard will take the stage through Sunday evening—a terrific way to spend quality time in Lafayette. Visit festivalsacadiens.com for details.