Festivals Happening this Weekend: May 4 through May 7

There's a festival for everyone this weekend in Louisiana.

Herbs and other plants will be available this weekend at the Sunset Herb & Garden Festival.Photo byM Henderson

There are numerous festivals happening during the first weekend of May. You can eat crawfish, buy herbs for your garden, or be a pirate for a day. If you missed the opening weekend of Jazz Fest, the second weekend promises to be just as exciting.

Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival - May 5, 6, & 7

1290 Rees Street, Breaux Bridge

A tradition since 1960, the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival offers food, music, and lots of fun. Enjoy crawfish prepared in every way imaginable including boiled, fried, bisque, boudin, jambalaya, pie, etouffee, and crawdogs. Over 30 bands on three stages will be playing Cajun, Zydeco, and Swamp Pop music during the 3-day festival. Crawfish races, cooking demonstrations, Cajun dance lessons, a parade, a crawfish-eating contest, carnival rides, games, and arts & crafts fill the weekend.

Admission for each day is as follows:

• Friday, 5/5, $10
• Saturday, 5/6, $15
• Sunday, 5/7, $5
• 3-day festival pass, $25

Opening ceremonies take place at 4:30 PM on Friday, May 5. Festival grounds close on Sunday, May 7, at 4 PM.

Sunset Herb & Garden Festival - May 6

235 Marie Street, Sunset

Bring your wagon to stock up on herbs and other plants, herbal products, garden art, and pottery at the Sunset Herb & Garden Festival. Get advice from Master Gardeners and find hibiscus, roses, succulents, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, grasses, and fruit trees for sale. Kids can visit the fairy corner and enjoy face painting, fun jumps, and engaging activities in the Kid's Corner.

Admission is $5.

Lake Charles Pirate Festival - May 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

900 Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles (Lake Charles Civic Center)

Pirates will land on the shores of historic Lake Charles for the annual Pirate Festival. Hear live music, eat good food, and take part in pirate-related activities such as walking pirate parades, cannon demonstrations, and the 35th annual Louisiana Arm Wrestling Championship. Carnival rides will be operating every night of the festival.

Ride armbands cost $30.

Morehouse May Madness Festival - May 6

100 E Madison Street, Bastrop

Celebrating Morehouse Parish, the Morehouse May Madness Street Festival features art, motorcycle and classic car exhibits, music, farmers market activities, merchants, and food vendors. Miss Louisiana will visit and there will be a baby contest.

Admission and parking are free.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - May 4, 5, 6, 7

1752 Gentilly Blvd.

During the second and final weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the music lineup includes Leon Bridges, Jon Batiste, Herbie Hancock, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and many more. This is your chance to watch some of Louisiana's best chefs in action at the Food Heritage Stage.

Jazz Fest general admission is $95 at the gate.