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Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and PreserveA man shows a younger man how to finger a guitar chord during Prairie Acadian Cultural Center music lessons.
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Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Prairie Acadian Cultural Center - Eunice
 
Dancers waltz to a Cajun band at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center
Visitors take to the dance floor at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center
 

Slow the pace a bit and waltz into the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice. Discover the life of Louisiana's prairie Cajuns through ranger programs, exhibits, artifacts, and films. Kids can explore the center and earn a badge with the Junior Ranger program. The center's bookstore has books, music, children's books, and craft items on sale. Admission to the center is free. Click here for directions and program listings for specific dates.

250 West Park Avenue, Eunice
337-457-7700
Open Tuesday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Closed December 25. Useful information about public transportation, regulations on pets, etc., is available here.

Regularly scheduled programs:

  • Free Cajun music and dancing every Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Let the center's volunteers teach you how to kick up your heels Cajun-style!
  • Free cooking demonstrations every Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Rangers and volunteers share the secrets of gumbo, etouffee, and other local favorites.
  • Rendez-vous des Cajuns every Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy an evening of live Cajun and zydeco music known locally as "the Cajun Grand Ole Opry" at the Liberty Theater next door to the center.
  • Free weekly workshops in Cajun dancing and language and in playing the accordion, fiddle, and guitar begin Tuesday, September 2, and continue through Tuesday, October 7. Call 337-457-8499 for information and to register.

Special events and programs

  • Field trips for schools and other groups by reservation.
  • View "A Century of Eunice History from Vintage Photographs" during a free program by Professor Alma Reed at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 7.
  • Mardi Gras at the center (Mardi Gras 2009 is Tuesday, February 24). The center is open for the annual celebration of Mardi Gras in Eunice and features special programs and events, including a program on Cajun country Mardi Gras at noon on Monday, February 23.
  • Girl Scout programs for Daisies, Brownies, and Junior Girl Scouts.
  • Free summer day camps for children 9-10 years old.

For more on things to do in Eunice and for information on Cajun history and culture, check out

 

                             

  


 

 

 
 
Prairie Acadian Cultural Center logo shows man wearing a big straw hat and using a scythe
From Acadian to Cajun
Learn how the exiles of Acadie became Louisiana's Cajuns
more...
Gumbo bubbles on the stove
Life the Cajun way
Music, food, and craft demonstrations
more...
A hungry Louisianan peels crawfish.  

Did You Know?
Although there are over 250 species of North American crawfish, Louisiana’s annual 100-million-pound, $50 million harvest consists mainly of two species. There are a lot of ways to eat crawfish: crawfish etouffee, crawfish pie, crawfish stew, boiled crawfish, crawfish beignets, crawfish bread.....

Last Updated: February 10, 2009 at 16:09 EST