The festival, held over several days, often features carnival rides and fair games. Most of the events are located at the corner of Highway 14 and Sucrose Drive, across from the Iberia Parish Tourist Center. From 7 p.m. to midnight, bands play at the Bouligny Plaza on Main Street at the Hi Sugar Stage. Admission is free on weeknights, but there is a minimal cover charge on weekends.
New Iberia is sometimes referred to as "the Queen of the Teche," referring to its prominence within Teche County. The festival was begun in 1937 by town elders as a means of celebrating local sugar cane farming and the production of raw sugar. With the exception of a brief hiatus during World War II, the festival has been going continuously ever since.
In addition to games and music, the festival is marked by a number of parades. Some that feature floats resemble the famous krewe parades of New Orleans. There are also parades featuring flag corps, marching bands and classic cars. Featured competitions include bake-offs, in which local cooks compete to concoct the sweetest sugar-based treat, and art shows, in which painters go head to head with regionally-themed art.
The festival traditionally ends with the coronation of pageant royalty. King Sucrose, selected by local sugar farmers, is chosen from among men with deep ties to the sugar industry. The first King Sucrose was the legendary Earl K. Long, governor of Louisiana. On Saturday night, the festival crowns Queen Sugar, a woman in her late teens drawn from the local community. On Sunday afternoon, both dress in royal costumes for a ride on a float down the main street of New Iberia.
