An enduring sense of community provides Carencro with a vibrant public life. There are many opportunities for residents to come together, whether it's to work toward a common civic goal, to research local family histories, plan a community celebration or just enjoy one another's company. Here are a few of the reasons Carencro is a great place to live, work and play.

CARENCRO COMMUNITY CENTER

The Carencro Community Center is a state-of-the-art facility offering 10,000 square feet of customizable event space. It features a Great Room, which can be divided for use as a smaller space, as well as two adjoining meeting rooms and a full-service, commercial-grade kitchen.

The facility is perfect for receptions, meetings and a variety of other community and group events. A refundable security deposit and signed contract are required to reserve a date. High demand results in dates filling up far in advance, so call early to book your event.

For information and reservations, call 896-8481.
Click to download a rental contract and a general information pdf.

RECREATION

The Parks and Recreation Commission of Carencro works to provide recreational opportunities for all of its citizens. It offers several programs, from adult softball to a children's summer recreation camp to fitness programs for seniors. The Lafayette Parish Parks and Recreation Department also helps provide for sports and leisure activities and facilities.

Softball players come from all over the U.S. to play ball in Carencro's Pelican Park. The facility is one of a few in the country equipped with artificial turf infields. Weekend tournaments for youth, men and women are held from February through October, with nearly 500 participating teams. Weekly league competition is open to men's, women's and mixed teams. Altogether, more than 3,000 games are played annually on Pelican Park's four diamonds.

In the off-season, November through January, the 32-acre park is host to a number of special events. A concert stage is available for large-scale entertainment offerings. For information, call (337) 896-5000.

The Carencro Area Youth Sports Initiative (CAYSI) is a volunteer organization that coordinates a program for boys and girls, age 5-16, in baseball, basketball and football. More than 1,000 children take part each year. Youth soccer is offered through the Lafayette Parish Parks and Recreation Department. For more information on any youth sport program, call (337) 291-8361.

Approximately 200 children, 9-15 years old, benefit from the Carencro Summer Recreation Program. A minimal fee allows youngsters to participate in seven weeks of organized team sports, recreational games and special activities. Included are softball, kickball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming, horseshoes, ping-pong, checkers and other quiet games. The children also learn environmental awareness by taking part in Trash Bash, a community cleanup day. For more information, call 896-9366.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Carencro hosts its own Mardi Gras and Christmas celebrations. A Carencro Country Christmas is a free-admission, traditional family-oriented event held at the Carencro Community Center. Activities include the Home Bank Children's Parade, arts & crafts booths, holiday food and musical entertainment.

The Carencro Mardi Gras Association and private Mardi Gras krewes provide lots of carnival merriment for this festive celebration before the observance of Lent. Local royalty and a Mardi Gras parade are highlights of the carnival season.

CAJUN & CREOLE HERITAGE

The influx of Acadians and Africans into the Carencro Prairie area in the 1700s and 1800s formed the basis of the culture that exists here today. The customs, food, music, language, and religious practices are much the same as that of our ancestors.

Most of the Acadians who settled here had landed in St. Martinville and had first homesteaded in one of the four districts set up by the Spanish Government. They later took advantage of government-issued land grants, which were located mainly along Bayou Vermilion and Bayou Carencro.

Devout Catholics, their faith was a central force in the lives of the early settlers. They had endured exile from Acadia for refusing to pledge allegiance to the British crown, fearing that by doing so they would lose their religious freedom and their culture. Thus, they established a strong Catholic community that continues to influence so much of Cajun and Creole life today.

There were a few free men and women of color by the time Carencro was settled. They, along with slaves of African heritage who were freed following the Civil War, contributed to the social expansion of the Carencro Prairie as the Creole culture evolved from the assimilation of African, French and Spanish languages and customs.

Today the Cajun and Creole cultures thrive by embracing and preserving their unique traditions.

In an effort to enrich its own community and share its culture, the City of Carencro is a twin city of two communities with a common heritage. Since 1989, Carencro has been a twin city of Dieppe, New Brunswick. Dieppe is located in the region from which the Acadian ancestors were deported in the 1700s. Carencro is also twinned with Leuze en Hainaut, Belgium.

Carencro marked its 100th anniversary with a four-day celebration in October 2005. Be sure and check out the Centennial Highlights.

LAGNIAPPE

A number of notable people have come from Carencro. We're proud to have ties with them and recognize them here.

- Dr. Thomas Arceneaux, former Dean of Agriculture at UL at Lafayette (SLI), and designer of the Acadian flag.
- Marc Breaux, choreographer who has worked with Fred Astaire, Bob Hope, the Supremes, Debbie Reynolds and Dick Van Dyke, among others.
- Marc Broussard, singer-songwriter, Island Records recording artist.
- Ted Broussard, member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
- Iva "Cricket" Clavelle, inducted into the Living Legends program, The Acadian Museum, for her work promoting goodwill, tourism and trade between the French and Spanish-speaking countries of the world.
- Murray Conque, Cajun comedian who has appeared on national television and has been the opening act for many famous entertainers across the U.S.A.
- Robyn DesOrmeaux, former star soccer player for Carencro High and LSU (starting goalkeeper for LSU from 2001-04), was LSU's all-time leader with 28 wins, and earned First Team All-Louisiana and LSU Defensive MVP honors.
- Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, nationally renowned Zydeco musician.
- Kevin Faulk, running back for the New England Patriots, LSU all-time leading rusher, and SEC all-time total yards record holder.
- Ron Guidry, former New York Yankees pitcher known as "Louisiana Lightning," and Cy Young Award winner.
- Charles "Charlo" Guilbeau, member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
- Nelson "Nel Nelson" Quebedeaux, member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
- Wade Richey, former kicker for the San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Ravens.
- Chanda Rubin, professional U.S. tennis player, ranked in the top 25 singles players, 1995 Junior Girls' Singles Champion at Wimbledon.