Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Campus Culture and Inspiring Arts

Begin your day at the enormous and modern Capitol Park Museum, located right across the park from the Capitol building and set on the Mississippi River. On the ground floor, learn about Louisiana’s rich history through videos, audio re-enactments and historic artifacts. Just 10 minutes from Capitol Park, the Shaw Center for the Arts is a multi-use arts complex in downtown Baton Rouge that is a fantastic place to see art exhibits and to watch music, dance and theater performances. Browse the LSU Museum of Art on the fifth floor, which houses about 3,500 historical and contemporary art pieces. See where it all began for Baton Rouge at the Red Stick Sculpture, an artistic homage to the historical boundary between the Indigenous Houma and Bayougoula people. The sculpture, created by Southern University graduate Frank Hayden, sits atop Scott’s Bluff and offers a pretty view of the Mississippi River.

The hip Mid City neighborhood plays host to two art festivals annually. Each November, White Light Night showcases local artisans and live bands along lively Government Street, while Hot Art Cool Nights offers artistic vibes amid the blooms of spring. These family-friendly events are fun ways to shop for local goods and mingle with the community art scene. Music lovers will be thrilled to learn that Baton Rouge is also home to one of the USA’s oldest blues festivals. Visit during the first weekend of April to check out the Baton Rouge Blues Festival and dance to vibrant sounds on four stages.

If the live music bug has bitten you, stop into local hangs to hear the region’s premier bands and artists in action. Phil Brady’s Bar & Grill looms large over the Baton Rouge music scene. The oldest blues bar in the city offers live entertainment every Thursday through Saturday, encompassing a wide range of musical styles. About 30 minutes outside of town, Teddy’s Juke Joint offers a one-of-a-kind atmosphere and a legendary lineup of local bands. When there’s no live entertainment scheduled, you can catch Teddy himself spinning his favorite classic blues and soul records.

Beyond live music, you can take part in heart-pounding athletic events at Baton Rouge’s two universities. When the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers or the Southern University Jaguars take the field for some football, it’s always a major event. Grab tickets to a game, then show up early to enjoy the time-honored tradition of tailgating – informal block parties with food, music and plenty of revelry. Even if it’s not football season, you can watch LSU and Southern University’s baseball, volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball teams as they vie for their respective championships.

Fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) and rent a car for the hour-long drive to Baton Rouge.