Press Release
Nov. 7, 2016
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Brittany Racca
(337) 365-1540
(888) 942-3742
Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau Logo


Welcome to the
Queen City of Culture 
IBERIA PARISH, La. -- Get ready to expand your horizons in Iberia Parish.  Located in the heart of Cajun Country is New Iberia, La., where an array of diverse cultural events can be found on any given weekend to satisfy all interests. The Iberia Preservation Alliance is proud to proclaim New Iberia as the Queen City of Culture with an impressive list of cultural events.

Supported by a wide variety of cultural and community groups such as Iberia Cultural Resources Association, New Iberia Main Street Program, Iberia Parish Chamber of Commerce, Iberia Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau, Bayou Teche Museum, Shadows-on-the-Teche, Iberia Performing Arts League, the Berry Queens, Envision da Berry, Bunk Johnson Foundation, and On Tap, the variety of activities in the quaint bayou side town cater to the interests of children, adults, artists, musicians, families and visitors. 

"You will find unique events celebrating just about everything," said Iberia Preservation Alliance board member Cathy Indest, "and you will be able to sample, for a day or for a weekend, that unique hospitality that Southerners are known for."
 
Art aficionados will enjoy A&E and NILA galleries, year-round changing exhibits at the Iberia Parish Library, the Downtown Art Walk held every Fall and Spring along the award-winning New Iberia Historic District, and the bi-annual Arts and Crafts Fair at Shadows-on-the-Teche, a National Trust for Historic Preservation plantation home. The home and the Bayou Teche Museum, a modern interactive museum located in a historic building downtown, both house special art exhibits showcasing local and world-renowned artists. 

Music enthusiasts will enjoy the Iberia Cultural Resources Association's four free Acadiana Symphony Orchestra concerts featuring Christmas, classical, patriotic and pop music. Other free musical performances include Iberia Community Band's three concerts, the monthly karaoke-inspired Showtunes Sing-Along, and New Iberia Beneath the Balconies, which features vignettes performed on Main Street's balconies as visitors stroll along. For a more Southern Louisiana tradition, attend the Cajun French Music Festival with bands, dancing and food.

Iberia Performing Arts League always has a musical, dramatic performance or children's production on stage that showcases amazing regional talents. For a complete list, visit IpalTheater.com. If you want to take the family to a free movie, On Tap's "Movies in the Park" hosts over 700 families at each showing. Visit IberiaOnTap.com for details.

New Iberia has an abundance of festivals celebrating every avenue of culture including the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff, El Festival EspaƱol de Nueva Iberia, the Bunk Johnson Jazz Festival, Dave Robicheaux's Hometown Literary Festival, Dragon Boat Race, Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Competition, the Berry Queen Ball to support Iberia Habitat for Humanity, Bayou Teche Museum Gala, Tour du Teche and many more. 

In your down time you can tour some of the historic sites like the world-famous and newly- expanded Tabasco Factory & Country Store and Jungle Gardens of Avery Island, Conrad Rice Mill and Konriko Company Store  - the oldest operating rice mill in America - Jefferson Island Rip Van Winkle Gardens, Bayou Teche Museum and Shadows-on-the-Teche. Stroll down the historic district to look for the beautiful trilingual historic bronze plaques that tell the story of New Iberia with its Spanish and French heritage. Chase detective Dave Robicheaux on a self-guided James Lee Burke tour. Paddle along the Bayou Teche National Paddle Trail, which passes through downtown on its 135 mile run.

You'll meet friendly people at every turn who are ready and willing to share their stories of this unique South Louisiana town. New Iberia, the Queen City of Culture is waiting for you. Are you ready to geaux?

Click here for a complete list of cultural events, organizations and contacts. For a list of all events held in Iberia Parish, visit IberiaTravel.com. For more information, contact Cathy Indest with Iberia Preservation Alliance at cathy.indest@lhcgroup.com or 337-298-7964.


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Photo by Lee Ball
 
 
The Iberia Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official parish marketing agency promoting New Iberia, Avery Island, Jefferson Island, Jeanerette, Loreauville and Delcambre as a destination. Marketing programs target leisure travelers, business travelers, media, entertainment industry, and the travel trade including group tour planners, meeting planners, sports planners and special event planners. The bureau operates a parish welcome center in New Iberia.
 
For more information on parish events and tourism assets, call the bureau at 337-365-1540 or visit  IberiaTravel.com
Download the Iberia Travel App:  IberiaTravel App  

Iberia Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau
2513 Hwy 14 | New Iberia, LA | 70560
(337) 365-1540 | (888) 942-3742
www.IberiaTravel.com