7 Things To Do In Abbeville, Louisiana

things to do in abbeville louisiana
Claire
Claire 
Updated
| 3 min read

If you haven’t already been, you may be itching to get to New Orleans, Louisiana. A popular vacation spot known for its Mardi Gras celebrations, food and culture, New Orleans is no doubt a great city to visit. However, another southern Louisiana city that doesn’t get as much attention is just as interesting culturally and historically for travelers and visitors. Abbeville, Louisiana is a small town just off the bayou that offers a peak into Louisiana’s state history, both in terms of architecture and the people throughout history who’ve helped shape the culture. Read on to learn about the best things to do in Abbeville, Louisiana.

1. Play some sports at A A Comeaux Parks & Recreation

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

A A Comeaux Parks & Recreation offers a lot of activities to do in Abbeville that are sure to be a lot of fun for friends and family alike. The park’s tennis court, baseball field, soccer field, and softball fields are available for you to play in.

There is also a walking track if you’re the type of person who likes to go on relaxing walks. There is a recreation hall as well. The park is also spacious enough for you to go running with your pets and have a picnic.

A A Comeaux Parks & Recreation

Address: 300 A A Comeaux Memorial Dr, Abbeville, LA 70510, United States

Opening hours: Open 24 hours

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2. Experience Cajun culture and Southern hospitality at SHUCKS!

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Celebrate with us!! Ready to FIREUP your 4th of July weekend? Get the REAL CAJUN EXPERIENCE with a visit to SHUCKS!...

Posted by SHUCKS! THE Louisiana Seafood House on Friday, July 2, 2021

A locally owned Cajun-influenced restaurant, SHUCKS! THE Louisiana Seafood House has been serving authentic Cajun cuisine and seafood since 1995. It prides itself on providing well-made dishes using fresh local ingredients and a simple blend of seasonings. The most notable feature of these dishes is the fact that they all came from family recipes that span generations and have been passed down over the decades.

Combining amazing food quality and great ambiance, the restaurant showcases the beauty of Cajun culture and Southern hospitality.

SHUCKS!

Address: 701 W Port St, Abbeville, LA 70510, United States

Website: SHUCKS!

Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm (closed on Sun)

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3. Nurture your green thumb at the Daylily Festival

Orange Daylily
Source: Photo by user Steve Karg used under CC BY 2.5

The Daylily Festival and Garden Show occurs each summer in Abbeville right in the center of downtown, at the Magdalen Town Square. The day-long event boasts everything you could need for gardening, including supplied tools, birdhouses, rare and unusual plants, hibiscus flowers, and of course, daylilies. Even better - the event is absolutely free! While roaming the booths you can also catch several educational speakers offering tips on gardening and other related topics. There is also always an assortment of food booths and trucks available on site. If you’re into gardening, then this festival is one of the things to see in Abbeville, LA.

Abbeville Daylily Festival and Garden Show

Address: 2 S Magdalen Square, Abbeville, LA 70510

Website: Abbeville Daylily and Garden Show

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4. See the history that Abbeville has to offer

Lyons House, Abbeville, Vermilion Parish LA - retouched
Source: Photo by user Jerrye & Roy ... used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Just like many other cities in Louisiana, Abbeville has a list of several building that are recognized in the national historic register. The buildings include the Lyons House and Gordy House, which are both victorian-style homes built in the 1800s. The houses are currently still in great condition and available for passers by to view at their leisure.

Another building on the list is the St. Mary Magdalen Church, which was initially built in 1843. There have since been four different churches erected on the same site as the original, and the one that stands now was completed in 1920. It was built in a Romanesque style and is cruciform in shape. The beautiful architecture includes arches, stained glass windows, gothic spires, and Corinthian columns. There have since been restorations, but the building still maintains its Romanesque stylings. St. Mary Magdalen Church has several standard mass times throughout the week and sits in the center of town right near Magdalen Square.

St. Mary Magdalen Church

Address: 300 Pere Megret St, Abbeville, LA 70510

Website: St. Mary Magdalen Church

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5. Learn about heroes at the Louisiana Military and Hall of Fame Museum

Louisiana National Guard, 256th IBCT staging vehicles DVIDS111727
Source: Photo by user Sgt. 1st Class Ca... used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Louisiana Military and Hall of Fame Museum is not only a great place to learn about the state’s military heroes, but to also honor those from past, present and future. The museum offers several year-round exhibits of the different boats, aircraft and vehicles that Louisiana servicemen and women have used, and also offers several special events throughout the year. The museum’s slogan isn’t “A Place to Honor Every Louisiana Veteran from Past, Present, and Future” for no reason - they actually offer a veteran’s job fair as well as a salute to heroes on Memorial Day.

Furthermore, there’s an annual skeet shoot event that is available for all to attend, as well as the annual induction ceremony offered for those entering the U.S. armed services. The museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and admission is free.

Louisiana Military and Hall of Fame Museum

Address: 911 Revis Sirmon Loop, Abbeville, LA 70510

Website: Louisiana Military and Hall of Fame Museum

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6. Visit the Abbeville Cultural and Historical Museum and Art Gallery

La Deportation des Acadiens par Henri Beau
Source: Photo by user Henri Beau used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

If you’re interested in really getting to know the people of Abbeville, both present and past, head to the Abbeville Cultural and Historical Museum and Art Gallery. The space offers rotating art exhibits by local artists as well as artifacts donated by the Vermillion Historical Society. Its permanent exhibit is a series of photographs from early Abbeville that display instances of Acadian heritage.

The museum also has a film about Acadian heritage called “Acadie Liberte” available to view Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm and Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 am to 5 pm. The museum is free to the public and can also give Abbeville visitors more information about the city and recreation. Its hours of availability are Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm.

Abbeville Cultural and Historical Museum and Art Gallery

Address: 200 N. Magdalen Sq. 70510 Abbeville, LA

Website: Abbeville Cultural and Historical Museum and Art Gallery

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7. View the original Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum

Posted by Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum on Wednesday, 3 October 2012

The Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum offers visitors a look into an original Abbeville blacksmith shop. True to its name, the shop was owned by Sam Guarino, and it was built in 1920. Inside the museum, visitors can view what a shop would have looked like in the older days and see the types of tools that blacksmiths used to complete their work. The shop is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, and is free for visitors. However, the shop does request that tours are scheduled ahead of time via phone call.

Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop

Address: 304 S State St. Abbeville, Louisiana

Website: Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop

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Visit Abbeville for a cheap, fulfilling vacation

New Orleans may be the most talked-about city in Louisiana, but there are many other spots that offer the same amount of culture and history. Abbeville, Louisiana takes up a small spot near the Louisiana Bayou, but holds a large amount of the state’s history. Whether you’re interested in the military, the architecture or the art and culture of Louisiana’s French-Canadian settlers (or Acadians), Abbeville has the historic buildings and museums to help you learn more. Better yet, because Abbeville is so small, many of its attractions are free. Overall, a trip to Abbeville means you’ll learn a lot and won’t need to break the bank.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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