Alexandria

Around Alexandria

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Metro area · Louisiana · 148k people

Alexandria

Locals say Cenla

Where the piney woods meet the bayou

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Welcome to Cenla! This is a place where the piney woods meet the bayous, and the food is always worth the drive. Whether you're a longtime local or just passing through, you'll find a friendly community ready to share a story and a plate of boudin. Come say hello!

Clubs for Alexandria

No clubs for Alexandria yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Alexandria. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Coming up

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Alexandria. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Kisatchie National Forest Public forest with hiking and camping.
  • Alexandria Zoo Small zoo with local wildlife.
  • Kent Plantation House Historic plantation home with tours.
  • Forts Randolph and Buhlow Civil War earthworks and museum.
  • Lake Buhlow Lake and recreation area.
  • Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway Scenic drive through forest.
  • Outdoors Hiking the Wild Azalea Trail in Kisatchie
  • Outdoors Fishing on the Red River
  • With kids Visit the Alexandria Zoo
  • With kids Tour Kent Plantation House
  • Evenings Live music at downtown Alexandria bars
  • Evenings Cajun dance halls in the area
  • Locals love Crawfish ponds
  • Locals love Boudin shops

Through the year

  • Riverfest May Music and arts festival on the Red River.
  • Cenla Comic Con summer Pop culture convention.
  • Rapides Parish Fair October County fair with rides and livestock.
  • Louisiana Pecan Festival October Celebrates pecans with food and crafts.
  • Wild Azalea Trail Run spring Trail race in Kisatchie National Forest.

Subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal—mild and less humid.

Talk like a local

“Cenla”
Central Louisiana, the local name for the area.
“Rapides”
Rapides Parish, pronounced ruh-PEEDZ.
“Kisatchie”
Kisatchie National Forest, pronounced kuh-SATCH-ee.
“Piney woods”
The forested area of the region.

Getaways

Local flavour

Rooting for LSU Tigers (college football, basketball, etc.), New Orleans Saints (NFL), New Orleans Pelicans (NBA)

Eat and drink

  • Crawfish (boiled or étouffée) Crawfish boils are a spring tradition across Cenla
  • Boudin Smoked sausage with rice and pork, a Cajun staple
  • Gumbo Rich stew with okra, filé, and seafood or chicken
  • Jambalaya Rice dish with sausage, chicken, or seafood
  • Natchitoches meat pies Crispy fried pastries filled with seasoned ground beef, popular across the region

Where people go

  • Bayous Slow-moving waterways that define the landscape
  • Piney woods (Kisatchie National Forest) Rolling hills of longleaf pines, a short drive from Alexandria
  • Crawfish ponds Flooded fields where crawfish are farmed, a common sight
  • Boudin shops Small gas stations and butcher shops selling fresh boudin
  • Small-town diners Family-run eateries serving plate lunches and local favorites

Heritage and traditions

Central Louisiana, or Cenla, is proud of its piney woods, the Red River, and a blend of Southern, Cajun, and Native American heritage, anchored by the Tunica-Biloxi tribe and historic towns like Marksville.

This time of year in Alexandria

  • Hunting and pecan harvest Fall Fall brings deer hunting season and pecan picking.

Say it like a local: “Lagniappe” — A little extra something, a bonus.

Festivals

  • Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wow Spring Annual gathering with traditional dances, drumming, and crafts.
  • Red River Dragon Boat Festival Summer Team paddling races on the Red River with food and music.

Landmarks with a story

  • Tunica-Biloxi Cultural Center Showcases the history and culture of the Tunica-Biloxi tribe in Marksville.
  • Marksville State Historic Site Prehistoric Native American mounds dating back over 2,000 years.
  • Louisiana Political Museum Dedicated to Huey Long and other state politicians, located in Winnfield.
  • Hotel Bentley A grand 1908 hotel in Alexandria, a landmark of early 20th-century architecture.
  • St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Catholic cathedral in Alexandria, a center of religious life since the 19th century.

Food traditions

  • Cracklins Fried pork skins, often seasoned with Cajun spices, sold at gas stations and meat markets. A staple snack at tailgates and crawfish boils.
  • Pecan pie Made with locally harvested pecans, a dessert tradition in the fall when pecans are in season.
  • Mayhaw jelly A tart jelly made from mayhaw berries, a Louisiana delicacy often spread on biscuits.

Music and arts

  • Gospel and country music Strong traditions in local churches and venues, with a mix of Southern gospel and country.
  • Tunica-Biloxi beadwork and basketry Traditional Native American crafts passed down through generations.
  • Alexandria Museum of Art Regional exhibitions and art classes, a hub for visual arts.

A little history

  • 1818 Founding of Alexandria
  • 1864 Red River Campaign
  • 1930 Kisatchie National Forest established
  • 1920s–1930s Huey Long's political rise
  • Prehistoric Tunica-Biloxi ancient mounds

Rivalries

  • Alexandria vs. Pineville high school football Crosstown showdown.
  • LSU vs. Alabama College football rivalry fans argue about.
  • Saints vs. Falcons NFL division rivalry.
  • Game day Friday night high school football
  • Game day LSU football tailgating
  • Outdoors Hunting deer and turkey in Kisatchie
  • Outdoors Canoeing on the Red River
  • With kids Tunica-Biloxi Cultural Center
  • With kids Louisiana Political Museum

Central Louisiana speech blends a Southern drawl with some Cajun French influences. Locals often say 'y'all' and use French-derived terms like 'lagniappe' and 'boudin'. The region is affectionately called 'Cenla'.

Only here

  • The Tunica-Biloxi Reservation and its Paragon Casino Resort.
  • The Louisiana Political Museum in Winnfield, dedicated to the Long family.
  • The Marksville Prehistoric Indian Mounds, one of the oldest sites in the state.
  • The nickname 'Cenla' for Central Louisiana.
New here? A few tips
  • Prepare for hot, humid summers and mild winters; hurricanes can bring heavy rain.
  • Learn to love boudin and cracklins from local meat markets.
  • Take a drive on the Longleaf Trail Scenic Byway to see the piney woods.
  • Visit the Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wow in spring to experience Native American culture.
  • Be aware of hunting seasons; wear bright orange if hiking in Kisatchie.

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Nearby

Every area
AvoyellesLouisianaWhere the bayou meets the cotton fields.Ville PlatteLouisianaWhere the prairies meet the pinesNatchitochesLouisianaThe original LouisianaLeesvilleLouisianaWhere the pines meet the water.OpelousasLouisianaWhere the bayou sings and the crawfish boilDeRidderLouisianaLocal rooms for Beauregard Parish.NatchezMississippiWhere the Old South whispers along the river.LafayetteLouisianaWhere the music is live and the boudin is hot.

Alexandria, LA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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