Carlyss Bon Ton Festival Returns This Weekend for 50th Year

KNGT | Carlyss, LA — If you grew up around Carlyss and Sulphur, chances are you’ve got a Bon Ton Festival memory. Maybe it was riding carnival rides until you couldn't ride anymore. Maybe it was spending WAY too much money trying to win something you probably could've bought cheaper at Walmart. Maybe it was playing 25-cent bingo, hitting the cake walk, eating something fried, or standing around visiting with people you haven't seen since the LAST Bon Ton Festival.

Whatever your memory is, it's almost time to make some new ones. The 50th Annual St. Theresa Catholic Church Bon Ton Festival is happening Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 20, 2026, in Carlyss. And the best part? Admission is FREE and parking is FREE!

Bon Ton Festival Brings Three Days of Fun to Carlyss

The Bon Ton Festival is one of those events that just feels like Southwest Louisiana. You've got carnival rides for the kids, food, bingo, cake walks, vendors, a garage sale and plenty of live music throughout the weekend. And speaking of live music, they've got a heck of a Louisiana lineup this year. Here's what you need to know before you head out.

Friday, September 18
The festival kicks off Friday afternoon with the opening ceremony at 4:30 p.m. The festival grounds and carnival rides open at 5 p.m. and run until 10 p.m.

Friday Live Music:
5:00 p.m. - Hunter Courville, performing until 7:30 p.m.
8:00 p.m. - Steve Riley, performing until 10 p.m.
That's a pretty dang good way to kick off a festival weekend if you ask me.

Saturday, September 19
Saturday is the BIG day, with rides, music, Mass, the live auction and fireworks all packed into one day. The first ride session runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Mass will be held inside St. Theresa Catholic Church at 4 p.m., followed by the live auction at 5 p.m. The second ride session runs from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Saturday Live Music:
11:00 a.m. - Dani LaCour, performing until 2 p.m.
12:30 p.m. - Bon Ton Queen Presentation
2:00 p.m. - Boomerang, performing until 4 p.m.
5:00 p.m. - Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Road Runners, performing until 7:30 p.m.
7:45 p.m. - Fireworks
8:00 p.m. - Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin' Cajuns, performing until 10 p.m.

I'm just gonna say it. If you can't find something to do at Bon Ton on Saturday, you ain't trying hard enough.

Sunday, September 20
Sunday wraps up the 50th Annual Bon Ton Festival with one final day of rides, food and live music. The final ride session runs from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Sunday Live Music:
11:00 a.m. - Damon Troy, performing until 2 p.m.

So you can grab something good to eat, listen to some Louisiana music and let the kids squeeze in those last few rides before heading home. There's More Than Music at the Bon Ton Festival. Of course, the Bon Ton Festival isn't just about who's playing on stage. Throughout the weekend, you'll also find:

25-cent bingo
Cake walks
Garage sale
Vendor markets
Plenty of food
Carnival rides for the kids

And if you've never played 25-cent bingo at a church festival in Southwest Louisiana, I feel like that's something everybody needs to experience at least once.

Where Is the Bon Ton Festival?

The 50th Annual Bon Ton Festival takes place at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 4822 Carlyss Drive in Sulphur. I've always loved festivals like this because they're about more than rides, food and music. It's neighbors catching up. It's kids making memories they'll probably talk about when they're grown. It's running into somebody you haven't seen in years and spending 20 minutes talking in the middle of the festival grounds. That's what makes these little community festivals special.

So grab the family, bring a few bucks for bingo and food, and make plans to head to Carlyss for the 50th Annual Bon Ton Festival, September 18th-20th. With free admission, free parking, carnival rides, fireworks and some great Louisiana musicians, this sounds like one heck of a weekend.

I'll see y'all at Bon Ton!