661. Today we talk to Rachel L. Doherty about Louisiana folklore and folklife. Rachel is the Assistant Director for Programming and Special Projects at the Center for Louisiana Studies. Dr. Rachel Doherty is a scholar of contemporary Francophone art, literature, and creolized identities in Louisiana and Canada. She is an alumna of UL Lafayette's Francophone Studies program, a former lecturer at UL and Université Sainte-Anne, and a former French immersion teacher. Dr. Doherty specializes in occult and magical lore in minority Francophone literatures and arts, and analyzes folklore's place in today's language and identity movements.

Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy.

The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it

as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in

print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!

“At

the ’Cadian Ball” by Kate Chopin is about a Fais Do

Do in the late 1800s.

"BOBINÔT, that big, brown, good-natured Bobinôt, had no

intention of going to the ball, even though he knew Calixta

would be there. For what came of those balls but heartache,

and a sickening disinclination for work the whole week

through, till Saturday night came again and his tortures began

afresh? Why could he not love Ozéina, who would marry him

to-morrow; or Fronie, or any one of a dozen others, rather

than that little Spanish vixen? Calixta's slender foot had

never touched Cuban soil; but her mother's had, and the

Spanish was in her blood all the same. For that reason the

prairie people forgave her much that they would not have

overlooked in their own daughters or sisters."

at Southern Univ. begin civil rights demonstrations.

"Chocolate City Speech" January 16, 2006. The "Chocolate City

Speech" is the nickname that some have given to the Martin

Luther King Jr. Day speech by Mayor Ray Nagin on January 16,

2006, several months after Hurricane Katrina. Prior to Nagin's

speech, some commentators were suggesting that the city's

demographics would change from majority African American to

majority Caucasian.  In an interview with Public Radio

International's Tavis Smiley (originally broadcast on January

13, 2006) Nagin used the phrase "chocolate city" in reference

to New Orleans' future demographics.

January 31, 2026

Louisiana King Cake Festival

402 West 3rd Street

Thibodaux, LA 70301

A large-scale outdoor food festival where attendees can sample

dozens of different king cakes from across the state.

This event serves as a major fundraiser for the Lafourche

Education Foundation:

10:30 AM: The “Krewe of King Cake” Children’s Parade kicks off

the festivities around 201 Green Street.

11:00 AM: The festival grounds officially open for tasting and

live music.

Highlight 1 (The Tasting): Guests purchase “tasting tickets”

to sample various king cakes and vote for the “People’s

Choice” winner.

Highlight 2 (The Music): Local Louisiana bands perform on the

main stage throughout the afternoon. 

4:00 PM: The winners of the best traditional and

non-traditional king cakes are announced.

End: The festival wraps up at 5:00 PM.

Website: louisianakingcakefest.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (985) 688-4662

Lafourche Education Foundation

P.O. Box 486

Thibodaux, LA 70302

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