Opelousas is a beautiful city located in Louisiana, United States. Opelousas is the parish seat of St. Landy Parish and one of the most important cities in the area. It has a population of about 23,200 residents on an area of 7.1 square miles (18.4 square kilometers). Opelousas also is one of the oldest cities in Louisiana, being founded in 1720 and incorporated in 1821. Opelousas is well known under the name of the "spice capital of the world". The city also is a popular destination for numerous tourists who arrive in Opelousas to attend the many festivals held here every year.
Top Attractions within Opelousas
The Yambilee Festival is one of the most important events held in Opelousas, each year. The festival also is the oldest, first being held in 1946. The celebrations include numerous concerts, but also competitions, such as cooking and beauty contests. The Yambilee Festival stars on the Wednesday of the last week of October and lasts throughout the whole weekend. Other great festivals of the city include the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival and the International Joke Telling Contest.
Opelousas Museum & Interpretative Center aims to preserve the heritage and history of the city. Here tourists will be able to find numerous artifacts displaying the history and culture of the area, including Native American displays. While being in Opelousas tourists will also have the chance to see the Louisiana Orphan Train Museum, which first opened in 2009 to display documents, artifacts and other memorabilia of train history.
South City Park is one of the most impressive and beautiful parks located in Opelousas. Amenities here include a swimming pool, tennis courts, playground areas, baseball fields, but also picnic areas. The North City Park is the other Opelousas big park, featuring tennis courts, playgrounds and swimming pools.
Opelousas Museum of Art is a lovely museum located in the Wier House, a building that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Collections include art works and photographs, among many others.
