MORGAN CITY, La. — One of South Louisiana’s biggest Labor Day traditions returns this week as the 91st Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival takes over downtown Morgan City from Thursday, September 3 through Monday, September 7, 2026. The five-day festival is free to attend and celebrates the shrimping and petroleum industries that have helped shape Morgan City and the surrounding area.
Festival-goers can expect a packed weekend of live music, carnival rides, food, arts and crafts, children’s activities, the Shrimp Cookoff, parades and several longtime festival traditions. The celebration dates back to 1936 and is recognized as Louisiana’s oldest state-chartered harvest festival.
Among the biggest events will be Mass in Lawrence Park Sunday at 8:30 a.m., followed by the Blessing of the Fleet and Water Parade from 10 a.m. until noon. The traditional Shrimp & Petroleum Festival Street Parade rolls at 3 p.m. Sunday, followed by Fireworks on the Atchafalaya River at 9 p.m. Festival officials say the fireworks will be synchronized to music broadcast on KQKI 95.3 FM.
🎵 2026 MUSIC LINEUP
Friday, September 4 — Lawrence Park: 5:30–8:30 p.m. Justin Cornett Band; 9–11 p.m. Jamie Bergeron & The Kickin Cajuns. Saturday, September 5: 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. SCL Worship Band; 1–2:30 p.m. Rachel Fleetwood & Perfect Love; 3–4:30 p.m. Dustin Lee Guedry Band; 5:30–6:30 p.m. Jim Y sus norteños; 7:30–9 p.m. Threat Level Midnight; 9:30–11 p.m. BRW Motown Review R&B Group. Sunday, September 6: Noon–1 p.m. Chase Landry; 1:30–3:30 p.m. Brittany Pool & the Rugarouxs; 4–6 p.m. Trio Reafirmación De La Sierra; 6:30–8:30 p.m. Deep Water Rehab; 9–11 p.m. Kings of Neon. Monday, September 7: Noon–2 p.m. Cliff Hillebran; 2:30–4:30 p.m. South 70. The festival also has a 3rd Street Music Stage Saturday and Sunday, though those performers are still listed as TBA on the current schedule.
Saturday also includes the 100 Black Men 5K Run/Walk, Children’s Day activities and parade, Children’s Village, Gospel in the Park and the Shrimp Cookoff at 2 p.m. at the Morgan City Dock on Front Street. Carnival rides, the Cajun Culinary Classic, arts and crafts marketplace and Artist Guild show continue throughout much of the weekend.
The Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival runs through Labor Day Monday, September 7, bringing five days of food, music and tradition to downtown Morgan City while honoring the industries and people that have been a major part of the community for generations.
