A Weekend of Food, Music, and Tradition
When the second Sunday in May approaches, the to-do list in Avoyelles Parish is short: pick up Mother’s Day gifts and secure Cochon de Lait dinner tickets. Held each year in Mansura over Mother’s Day weekend, the Cochon de Lait Festival celebrates one of Avoyelles’s most cherished culinary traditions. “Cochon de lait” translates to “suckling pig,” and the festival honors the custom of roasting a whole pig over an open fire. Volunteers stay up all night tending the fires to ensure everything is ready for Sunday’s Cochon de Lait dinner plates. For decades, the festival has drawn visitors from around the world to the center of Louisiana, making it one of Avoyelles Parish’s most beloved annual events.
How the Cochon de Lait Festival Came to Be
The first Cochon de Lait Festival was held in 1960 to celebrate the centennial of the town of Mansura. That same year, the town was designated as “Cochon de Lait Capital of the World,” by the Louisiana legislature. Word spread quickly, and in the years that followed, the small festival grew to attract thousands of visitors. After a brief hiatus and some restructuring, the festival returned in 1986 and evolved into the family-friendly event we know today. For locals, it’s a weekend to celebrate their culture, connect with the community, and enjoy great food and good times.
This year’s festival kicks off Friday, May 8th, with carnival rides, DJs, and the evening street dance featuring live, local music. Saturday is a full day of celebrations and traditions including a 5K race, hog calling contests, greasy pig chasing contest, boudin eating contest, and more! Don’t miss the grand finale on Sunday with a traditional Cochon de Lait dinner plate. Whether it’s your first time trying a cracklin’, or you’re a greasy pig contest veteran, we hope you’ll come out and enjoy some Avoyelles hospitality in the Centre de la Louisiane!
For a full festival lineup and information, visit https://www.facebook.com/CochondeLaitFestival.
