Festival International Draws Crowds to Lafayette, Boosts Economy

One of the many Festival International map and navigation information kiosks around downtown Lafayette. Photo credit: Sadie Wilks 2026.

As Amaris Milano stepped onto the 5:00 p.m. shuttle, she held close to her a detailed schedule that mapped her every move for the next six hours.

She knew this ride would last roughly 10 minutes. From there, she would be immersed in a festival that, to her and many others, defines Lafayette. But before the shuttle came to its planned stopping point, Milano saw many faint outlines of people crowded around a stage. Seconds later, she saw more outlines huddled around several booths.

She smiled, knowing that her preparation was not in vain.

“Trust me, I’ve learned from my mistakes,” Milano said, noting this was her third trip to Festival International de Louisiane and that she has learned to navigate the crowds.

The five-day festival, designed for cultural celebration, brings around 300,000 visitors across 48 states and 26 countries to downtown Lafayette. From musical acts to children’s activities and unique vendors, Festival International, celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year, offers all who attend a taste of Acadiana and world culture.

With thousands of people flowing into the city of roughly 120,000 residents, it helps to have a gameplan to navigate your way around.  

“I wouldn’t say that space is necessarily a problem,” Milano said. “I live in the city, so I guess my experience is different, but it’s all about knowing where to go and when to go. Certain spots will be busier than others at certain times of the day. That’s just life in any somewhat large city.”

The Juliet Hotel on Jefferson Street in downtown Lafayette is located a short, one- to three-block walk from the festival, which makes it an easy destination for festivalgoers looking for multi-night stays. It is among five hotels located within two miles of Festival International activities. The same can be said for many other local businesses, from restaurants to one-stop shops. This, in turn, creates an economic boom for downtown businesses during the event.

Ben Berthelot, CEO of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, told KLFY.com in Lafayette in 2024 that Festival International brought the local economy about $50 million. Berthelot credited local businesses as a driving force in generating buzz for the event.

“That’s when you look at economic impact, you think of visitation,” he said in the KLFY interview. “That’s a big piece of it. But you also have the local restaurants who are making money as vendors at festival, but also those visitors who are staying in our hotels and going out to other restaurants who may not even be participating as vendors.”

The economic impact helps the festival achieve its mission, which is to “develop culture and tourism, as well as enhance economic development by expanding Louisiana’s reputation as an arts center and a destination for artistic events.”

For festivalgoers, though, the goal is mostly fun.

Erin Whitten, a longtime Monroe resident, moved to Lafayette in 2024 and attended her first Festival International in 2025. She described the experience as mostly positive, crediting the festival attendees as a highpoint.

“There’s nothing really like it in Monroe,” Whitten said. “It was just great to be around and interact with so many different people from around the world. Like, I don’t want to take that experience for granted, you know?”

Whitten also noted the selection of vendors, as well as the overall vibes of the festival as a main selling point.

Amaris Milano, the attendee making her third trip to the festival, credits the overall experience of the event as to why she recommends at least one outing to her friends and family.

“The beauty of this festival comes from how everything just blends together so well,” Milano said. “You won’t find one thing out of place because that’s just not possible. Everything and everyone fits here.”

She added: “And I credit the people who help put the festival together and the people who come out and support the city because, you know, to bring all of these people together is one thing, but to continue bringing them back is another. And, just for everything, honestly, the experience matters. And the people who run this festival do a great job at creating a fun experience.”