It’s springtime in Cenla, and that means the return of live music, food, and fun in the Real Easy on the first weekend in May! Alex River Fête draws together locals and out-of-town visitors from near and far to celebrate the arts, culture, and heritage of Central Louisiana. Set on the banks of the Red River in Downtown Alexandria, the three-day festival includes a host of great events, including Dinner on the Bricks, AMoA Luminary Procession, Indie Village, Classic Car Fête, the Que’in on the Red BBQ Competition, dozens of lively arts programs, colorful street performers, vibrant craft displays and sales, food vendors, children’s activities, live music, and so much more!
The Fête fun begins Thursday, May 1st, at 5:00pm with the Fête kickoff—come hungry, leave happy! Dinner on the Bricks features delicious food, drinks, and live music! This flavor-focused evening held on 3rd Street in Downtown highlights a menu served up by locally owned restaurants and caterers. Admission is free, but individual menu prices vary. Dance the night away to the sounds of Cenla’s own, DJ Tony Groove, spinning all your favorite jams until 9:00pm.
The festival fun resumes on Friday, May 2nd, at 4:00pm with more music, food vendors, arts & crafts booths, and the always funky, always popular, and always welcoming Indie Village opening. Explore the independent art scene where community and culture live outside the mainstream. Find unique gifts, handmade goodies and enjoy live music. Indie Village Vendors are chosen in a selection process that includes an assessment of whether the artists and their work, food, or products are created outside the mainstream, independently produced and meet the culture of this community. Indie Village is located in the area of 4th and Desoto Streets near Tamp & Grind.
Three days. Multiple stages. One spectacular musical lineup. Alex River Fête is known for electrifying live music featuring an array of big-name talent and up-and-coming artists on two stages! The Main Stage and Indie Stage are where the musical magic will happen!
Take to the street on Saturday afternoon and evening to show off your best moves for each of two hour-long line dance parties at 5:00pm and 7:30pm. DJ Tony Groove will set the vibe on stage until 6:00pm, when the Alex River Fête Ferris Wheel will open for the weekend and Louisiana’s own, Grammy award-winning Rebirth Brass Band takes the stage. For nearly four decades, The Rebirth Brass Band has redefined what it means to bring the vibrant spirit of New Orleans music to the world. Following Rebirth, the Alexandria Museum of Art will light up the night with this year’s Illuminated Procession through the Fête festival grounds. The Illuminated Procession is a dazzling parade of hand crafted, life-sized art pieces made by local artists and community members! Want to be part of the procession? Join AMoA on Friday, April 18th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Museum to design and build your own luminary!
After the second line dance street party following the Illuminated Procession, the funk comes to town! The R&B funk icon, Con Funk Shun, who has been pleasing fans for over 50 years, will wrap up the first day of festivities on the main stage from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. Con Funk Shun’s current lineup includes three original members, Michael Cooper, Felton Pilate, and Karl Fuller, as well as the talents of Kurt “KC” Clayton, Ron Moton, Aaron Green, Rene Escovedo, and Brian LaTour.
Saturday’s jam-packed day of fun kicks off at 10:00am when the festival reopens and the area’s best grill masters fire up for the Que’in on the Red BBQ Competition. Sanctioned by the Barbecue Competitors Alliance, this friendly competition among barbecue enthusiasts will include the categories of chicken, pork spare ribs, and beef brisket, as participants compete for the title of Grand Champion!
As a sanctioned competition, BCA rules and regulations will be followed, including heat sources and judging standards. Participants must cook all three main meats (chicken, pork spare ribs, and beef brisket) to be considered for Grand Champion. The top local competitor will be honored as Best Local Finisher and awarded a combination of cash and prizes. The BCA categories will be judged on Saturday, May 3rd, with the Ancillary Contest beginning on Friday, May 2nd. Winners will be announced on Saturday at 4:00pm. All entries must be postmarked by April 18th to be considered for acceptance into the contest. For more info or to register, visit alexriverfete.com/quein-on-the-red/
There is something for everyone at the Fête, including your favorite furry family member. Alex River Fête is a pet friendly event, just please remember to have your four-legged bestie on a leash! Bring your friends to experience the fun that is Alex River Fête! Looking to add to your family? Find your fur-ever family member at the City of Alexandria Animal Shelter’s Adopt a Fête Pet adoption event from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
At 10:30am, rev up your engines and cruise on over to the Classic Car Fête! Get ready to check out some seriously sweet rides, from old-school classics to tough trucks and rat rods. Awards include prizes for the Mayor’s Choice, Best Truck, Favorite Rat Rod and plenty more! Trophies will be awarded for the Top 10 vehicles, there will be a $100 cash prize drawing and door prizes for registered car owners! Registration is free and open starting at 9:00am until the show opens; space is limited, so plan to arrive early. Classic Car Fête will be open until 5:00pm with the awards ceremony taking place at 4:30pm. For more information, call (318) 449-5225, (318) 449-5228, or register online at alexriverfete.com.
Live music on the main stage continues at 3:00pm with Cenla’s own Semi Charmed. Their high-energy live performances channel the spirit of legendary acts like Matchbox 20, Pearl Jam, Bush, and Stone Temple Pilots. Following the awards ceremonies for Que’in and the Classic Car Fête, Uncle Lucius is set to take to the Alex River Fête main stage! Uncle Lucius has long been known for their unique blend of roots rock & roll and country soul. During the years following the band’s farewell tour in 2018, their audience continued to organically grow, highlighted by the placement of their song “Keep the Wolves Away” in an episode of Yellowstone and its subsequent RIAA gold and platinum certifications. Whether you’re a longtime fan or hearing them for the first time, this performance will have you dancing all afternoon.
Grammy Award-winning Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience will follow on the main stage at 6:00pm. This dynamic six-piece group embodies the past, present, and future of American roots music. Multigenerational and multicultural, they are masterful musicians with formal training and a wealth of performance experience. Their expertly crafted sound weaves together zydeco, roots, reggae, gospel, funk, and New Orleans jazz, creating an electrifying and soulful live experience.
Closing out Alex River Fête 2025’s main stage will be The Main Squeeze from 8:00pm to 9:30pm. The Main Squeeze is a multicultural five-piece band that has cultivated a devoted following across the U.S. Through nearly a decade on the road and over 1,000 electrifying performances, they’ve honed a sound that transcends boundaries. Despite their diverse backgrounds, tastes, and beliefs, a powerful and unspoken connection emerges every time they take the stage, uniting them—and their audience—through music.
For even more information and to keep up with the latest Fête news, visit alexriverfete.com and follow the Fête on Facebook @officialalexfete. There’s no admission to enjoy all of the amazing live music, fantastic food, local art, great shopping, and general Fête fun so make plans to be in Downtown Alexandria this May 1st through 3rd for Alex River Fête 2025!
