Festivals

• Greater Baton Rouge State Fair takes place each October.
• Fest for All takes place each spring and is organized by the Arts Council for Greater Baton Rouge
• Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge is somewhat smaller than in New Orleans, but growing each year. The largest parade each year is Spanishtown, which rolls Saturday at noon. Other parading krewes in Baton Rouge include Artemis, Jupiter, Orion, and Southdowns.
• Balloon Championship

Parks

• Baton Rouge Zoo offers camps and educational programs.
• Baton Rouge Recreation and Parks Commission maintains many parks in the Baton Rouge area. There is almost always something to do at one of them, check the BREC website for more details.

Sports

• Louisiana State University Tigers compete in the Southeastern Conference.
• Southern University Jaguars compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

History

• River Road African American Museum traces the African American experience in the region.
• USS Kidd was known as "The Pirate of the Pacific."
• Old Arsenal is a powder magazine built around 1838.
• Old Governor's Mansion was built in 1930 by the notorious Huey Long.
• Old State Capitol Center for Political and Governmental History is the state's official repository of film and video archives.
• Louisiana Museum of Natural History consists of 16 natural history collections.
• The Stockade Friendly B&B on the grounds of a former Civil War stockade. Don't miss the garlic cheese grits. $75–100
• Louisiana State Archives maintains the state's official records.

Plantation Homes

• Mount Hope Plantation Pretty, homey B&B in a comparatively welcoming part of town.
• Magnolia Mound Plantation is a French Creole plantation dating back to about 1791.
• St. Francisville is a popular center for plantation tours.

Arts

• Baton Rouge Little Theatre puts on a variety of productions throughout the year.
• Baton Rouge Symphony performs a range of programs and seasonal events.
• Louisiana Arts and Science Center features art exhibits and interactive learning opportunities.
• Varsity Theatre is a popular music venue.
• Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge
• Live after 5

Local Resources

• Baton Rouge Advocate is the principal daily newspaper.
• Convention and Visitors Bureau has links to local businesses and points of interest.
• Daily Reveille is the student newspaper at Louisiana State University.
• East Baton Rouge Parish Library is a source for local history, genealogy, and general information.