Louisiana Cattle Festival

You know what they say: "If animals weren't meant to be eaten, why are they made out of meat?" To get your fix, head to the Red Barn in Abbeville for this annual festival of all things bovine that began in 1949. In addition to steaks, burgers, roasts, brisket, tongue and other meaty eats, festival-goers should expect arts & crafts, parades, livestock shows, an "Anything Goes" cook off, two stages for fais-do-do-ing, and a Cattle Queen, of course. Gates open at 5:30 pm on Thursday with [a] great ceremony. $5 gate fee on Friday (8 am–midnight) and Saturday (7:30 am–midnight); children 10 and under free. Bracelet Days on Thursday an and Sunday (11 am–5 pm) with unlimited rides from open to close for $20 with no gate fee. louisianacattlefestival.org.