Cajun filmmaker Pat Mire gives us an inside look at the colorful, rural Cajun Mardi Gras. Every year before Lent begins, processions of masked and costumed revelers, often on horseback, go from house to house gathering ingredients for communal gumbos in communities across rural southwest Louisiana. The often-unruly participants in this ancient tradition play as beggars, fools, and thieves as they raid farmsteads and perform in exchange for charity or, in other words, "dance for a chicken."

Bayou Vermilion District & Vermilionville host the Bal du Dimanche (Sunday Dance) EVERY WEEK (may be pre-empted by private events.)  This live music series is held in Vermilionville’s Performance Center and rustic dancehall from 1-4 p.m.  Admission is $10 and includes a self-guided tour of the Vermilionville Living History Museum. Come early and grab lunch at Vermilionville’s restaurant, La Cuisine de Maman.  The restaurant is open every Sunday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and features authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine. On Sundays, the restaurant features an all-you-can-eat Sunday buffet. Le Bal du Dimanche is broadcast live on KRVS Public Media 1-3 PM. Sunday, February 1 -- T'Monde Admission to the Live Concert Series is included in your Bayou Vermilion District & Vermilionville membership.  To purchase or renew your membership online, visit this link: https://bayouvermiliondistrict.org/membership All proceeds from this event go towards helping the Bayou Vermilion District and Vermilionville fulfill their local, environmental and cultural missions.