The 9 Best Activities for College Students in Louisiana!
Louisiana sure has lots of colleges and universities. Having larger universities like Louisiana State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Southern, and Louisiana Tech located in different parts of Louisiana means activities for college students can be spread out and diverse. Still, they are all tied together with a distinct Louisiana flavor that embodies everything in the state. Some activities are specific to the college town they are in, while others engross every college student in the state. Here are 9 activities for college students in Louisiana looking to have a good time.
Attend a concert
Live music is a big part of the culture in Louisiana. So it is no wonder that where there is a college there are also live music venues for the students to see their favorite groups. In Baton Rouge venues like The Varsity Theatre host internationally touring acts regularly, while in Lafayette more local acts can be seen at places like Blue Moon Saloon and Artmosphere. However, having two colleges in New Orleans alone, Tulane University and Loyola University, students from the Big Easy have the greatest advantage in seeing live music seven nights a week at world-renowned venues like Maple Leaf Bar or Tipitina’s. Being the birthplace of jazz, an inhibitor of the blues, a foundation of funk, and a curator of both Cajun as well as zydeco music there are countless venues and outdoor concert events for students to choose from. Just get out there and boogie!
Visit Mike the Tiger, Baton Rouge, LA
LSU’s mascot is a real, live tiger called Mike. Though there have been about five Mike’s in the past they all live in the luxurious habitat that the Tiger Foundation built for the school. Since the mid-1930’s a Mike has occupied his residency on campus where he can be visited at any time though he is not always seen as sometimes the big cat like to sleep. The environment is located right next to the P Mac across from Death Valley. Right in the heart of campus.
LSU’s Free Speech Alley, Baton Rouge, LA
Universities are places where the mind can expand and students in general are encouraged to speak their mind. Well, at LSU the school and students themselves have dedicated the alley going up to the front doors of the Student Union as Free Speech Alley. Where on any weekday citizens are welcome to speak their mind. Religious, political, and spiritual discussions as well as demonstrations can be seen throughout the week. Students are encouraged to state their point of view or simply ignore the free thinkers. Stop by the union to speak your mind!
Lagniappe Week, Lafayette, LA
This week is dedicated to students of the University of Louisiana Lafayette. Every spring the student body of ULL gets a week off to enjoy some fun activities. Lagniappe is a term used to describe just a “little something extra,” and this week at ULL is exactly just that. There are kayak and canoe races, crawfish boils, and the annual Lake Jump! The lake jump involves one student per year jumping feet first into the murky waters of Cypress Lake. Come bear witness to this great tradition.
Bayou Classic, New Orleans, LA
Since the 1970s this legendary game has been happening every year between rival Louisiana schools Grambling University and Southern University. It is called the Bayou Classic because it is played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and makes for a heck of a weekend in New Orleans. People from across the state ventures over to the crescent city for the weekend. Grambling lies in north Louisiana where Southern University is from Baton Rouge in the southern part of the state. This brings together students from all over who are welcome to buy tickets to the game or experience the party that goes along with it!
Go fishing
This is certainly not an activity just limited to college kids though it is a past time many students enjoy. At LSU or Southern in Baton Rouge, students can take part in catch-and-release fishing on the LSU lakes right in town. In Lafayette, Cypress Lake and its proximity to the Atchafalaya Basin make for more great fishing only minutes away from campus. Fishing is everywhere in the state and is a common past time for everyone. The fact that it is largely a free activity that can be done on you own time makes it just another great activity for university students in Louisiana. Take a break from studying and cast out a line.
Crawfest at Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Each April the fine students at Tulane University in New Orleans become the hosts of their annual Crawfest held in the heart of campus. Though the fest is free for Tulane students, other students from around the state along with guests are welcome to pay the $10 entry fee. The fee includes access to bands on two different stages, which in the past included acts like VulfPeck and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. On top of that they boil over 20,000 pounds of crawfish and thousands of pounds of vegetables. Be sure to check out the art vendors, as well. BYOB and get your groove on at Crawfest!
Attend a jam session
Around Louisiana, we not only have live music seven nights a week, but many jam sessions that happen in the larger cities along with college towns. Lafayette plays host to many Cajun and zydeco jam sessions at places like Blue Moon Saloon whereas in New Orleans there are jams everywhere. Hop onto Frenchmen Street, soak in the atmosphere and hop on with the band! Baton Rouge has many open mic nights where students can sing their blues away at places like Phil Brady’s where they have had a blues jam every Thursday for decades. College is a place to find your voice and discover things about yourself you never knew possible. So, instead of being in the audience get out there and jam!
Bar crawl
From St. Patrick’s Day pub crawls, to 90s themed bar hopping, and more. There are bar crawls scheduled around the state that are perfect for students over 21 to attend and meet people their own age. In Baton Rouge, 3rd Street downtown provides a perfect arena for people to walk from bar to bar trying different drinks on special occasions. Tulane and Loyola students often enjoy bar crawls that are organized close to campus where you can walk along the Street Car line. In any case, a well-organized bar crawl can be a fun way to start off the evening meeting and greeting different folks.
