Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival

Held annually each September since 1976 along the Cane River lakefront, the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival celebrates the city's signature dish — a fried or baked pastry with seasoned beef and pork filling documented in the region since the early 18th century. The festival draws tens of thousands of visitors and includes cooking competitions, live music, and demonstrations by local vendors who perpetuate the hand-preparation tradition.