DeRidder
Around DeRidder
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Louisiana · 36k people
DeRidder
Locals say Beauregard Parish · “The City of Progress”
Local rooms for Beauregard Parish.
Pine greenSunset gold
Welcome to DeRidder, the heart of Beauregard Parish! Whether you're here for the piney woods, the lake, or the friendly folks, you'll find a place that feels like home. Come for the crawfish, stay for the community.
Clubs for DeRidder
No clubs for DeRidder yet.
The room
One room for everyone around DeRidder. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around DeRidder. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Kisatchie National Forest Louisiana's largest national forest, with piney woods and trails.
- Toledo Bend Reservoir One of the South's largest man-made lakes, on the Texas border.
- Fort Polk Major Army installation and home to the Joint Readiness Training Center.
- Beauregard Parish Courthouse Historic 1911 courthouse in DeRidder's downtown square.
- DeRidder Historic District Early 20th-century buildings and local shops.
- West Louisiana Wildlife Management Area Public land for hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation.
- Outdoors Hiking in Kisatchie
- Outdoors Fishing on Toledo Bend
- With kids Fishing on Toledo Bend
- With kids Hiking in Kisatchie
- Evenings Local bars with live music
- Evenings Honky-tonk dancing
- Locals love Hunting camps
- Locals love Crawfish boils
Through the year
- Beauregard Parish Fair October Annual fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Louisiana Piney Woods Festival April Celebrates local heritage with music, arts, and crafts.
- Christmas on the Square December Holiday celebration in downtown DeRidder with lights and carols.
Humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities.
Getaways
- Lake Charles Casinos, dining, and entertainment.
- Alexandria Museums and the Alexandria Zoo.
- Natchitoches Historic district and charming riverfront.
- Lafayette Cajun culture, music, and food.
Local flavour
Rooting for LSU Tigers (NCAA Division I), New Orleans Saints (NFL), New Orleans Pelicans (NBA), McNeese State Cowboys (NCAA Division I)
Eat and drink
- Boudin Cajun sausage of pork, rice, and spices, sold at local meat markets and gas stations.
- Cracklins Fried pork skins, a Louisiana snack staple.
- Gumbo Hearty stew with roux, okra, and seafood or sausage.
- Crawfish Boiled crawfish in season, often with corn and potatoes.
- Po'boys Sandwiches on French bread, often fried shrimp or oyster.
- King cake Mardi Gras tradition, a sweet pastry with a hidden baby.
Where people go
- Kisatchie National Forest Expansive pine forests with hiking, camping, and hunting.
- Toledo Bend Reservoir Large lake on the Sabine River, popular for fishing, boating, and camping.
- Hunting camps Deer and duck camps are a way of life in the piney woods.
- Crawfish boils Community gatherings centered around boiled crawfish, often in backyards or community halls.
- Meat markets Local stores selling boudin, cracklins, and fresh sausage, often with a deli counter.
- Fort Polk U.S. Army installation that shapes the local economy and community.
Heritage and traditions
DeRidder and Beauregard Parish are proud of their piney woods heritage, the legacy of the railroad and timber, and the strong military community around Fort Polk, all blended with Louisiana's Cajun and Southern traditions.
This time of year in DeRidder
- Hunting season opens and the Beauregard Parish Fair Fall Fall
- Heritage Day at the Beauregard Museum Fall Celebrates parish history with crafts and demonstrations.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something
Festivals
- Heritage Day at the Beauregard Museum Fall Celebrates parish history with crafts and demonstrations.
- DeRidder Main Street Music Series Summer Free concerts on the courthouse square.
- Veterans Day Parade November Honors the military community around Fort Polk.
- Toledo Bend Bass Tournament Spring Competitive fishing on the reservoir.
Landmarks with a story
- St. Joseph Catholic Church Historic parish church in DeRidder.
- Beauregard Parish Courthouse Built in 1914, with a distinctive dome.
- DeRidder Historic District Early 20th-century buildings along Washington Street.
- The Beauregard Museum Housed in a former bank, tells the area's story.
- Fort Polk Major Army post, now a training center.
- First United Methodist Church Another historic congregation in DeRidder.
Food traditions
- Boudin and cracklins from local meat markets A Cajun staple, often bought fresh on weekends.
- Crawfish boils in spring Families gather for boiled crawfish with potatoes and corn.
- Gumbo on cold days A hearty stew with okra or filé, often made with whatever game is on hand.
- King cake during Mardi Gras season A sweet pastry with a hidden baby, celebrated from Epiphany to Fat Tuesday.
- Po'boys on Fridays during Lent Fried seafood sandwiches, a Catholic tradition.
Music and arts
- Cajun and Zydeco music influences Though less prevalent than further south, still present.
- Country and gospel music traditions Strong roots in local churches and family gatherings.
- Folk art like wood carving and quilting Reflecting the piney woods and homestead heritage.
- Bluegrass music in the piney woods Occasional jams and festivals.
A little history
- 1903 DeRidder founded as a railroad town
- Early 1900s Timber boom with sawmills and logging camps
- 1941 Fort Polk established as a military training center
- 1960s Toledo Bend Reservoir built
- Civil War era Parish named after Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard
Rivalries
- DeRidder vs. Leesville Friday night football rivalry between neighboring parishes.
- Game day Friday night high school football (DeRidder Dragons)
- Game day Hunting as a family tradition
- Outdoors Hiking the Wild Azalea Trail in Kisatchie
- Outdoors Fishing for bass on Toledo Bend
- With kids Visiting the Beauregard Museum
- With kids Playing at DeRidder City Park
Locals speak with a Southern drawl, using 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'. Some Cajun French words like 'lagniappe' and 'boudin' (pronounced 'boo-dan') are common. The accent is more Southern than Cajun, with a slower pace.
Only here
- The Beauregard Parish Courthouse has a unique dome design.
- Fort Polk is one of the largest military installations in the South.
- Toledo Bend is the largest man-made lake in the South.
- The Louisiana Piney Woods Festival celebrates the logging heritage.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to pronounce 'DeRidder' as 'duh-RID-er'.
- Try the local boudin and cracklins from a meat market.
- Be aware of hunting seasons; wear orange if you go into the woods.
- The heat and humidity in summer are intense; stay hydrated.
- Fort Polk brings a military presence; many events honor veterans.
Make this page better
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Part of Lake Charles area
Nearby
Every areaLeesvilleLouisianaWhere the pines meet the water.Ville PlatteLouisianaWhere the prairies meet the pinesDeep East TexasTexasWhere the pines meet the waterLake CharlesLouisianaCajun heart, lake soul.AlexandriaLouisianaWhere the piney woods meet the bayouNatchitochesLouisianaThe original LouisianaBeaumont–Port ArthurTexasWhere Cajun spice meets Texas pride.OpelousasLouisianaWhere the bayou sings and the crawfish boil
DeRidder, 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.