73rd Annual International Rice Festival, October 15th, 16th and 17th - 2009

The International Rice Festival held annually in Crowley is one of Louisiana's largest and also it's oldest Agricultural Festival. Since it's first festival on October 5^th, 1937, over 7 million people have attended the annual event.

The celebration brings attention to the importance of rice as food and also emphasizes it's place in the world's economic picture.

It is usually held on Friday and Saturday of the 3^rd weekend in October. Location is Downtown Crowley.

There are 2 parades, Friday (Children's Day), which is the Children's Parade, and Saturday, the Grand Parade.

There are also Special Events including the Rice Cooking Contest, Rice Eating Contest, Farmers Banquet and also the Queens Ball.

There is also entertainment continuously from early morning to midnight.

Also in conjunction with the Festival, is an Arts and Crafts exhibit, which is held adjacent to the Festival Grounds and also on Main Street..

• Entertainment

  Plenty of music at the New Cajun Country Rice and the NEW Louisiana Rice Mill Sound Stages. High Performance, Molly Ringwalds, Kira Viator & Bayou Beat, John Angotti, Jamie Bergeron, Midnight Star, The Chee Weez, Wayne Toups - MORE
  

• Poster Contest

  Beginning this year, The International Rice Festival Poster Contest has been replaced by a New Poster Program.

• Cooking Contest

  The annual Rice Creole & Cookery Contest will be held Friday October 16th 2009 at the LSU Ag Center Cooperative Extension Office in Crowley.