Black tie optional.

Dancing shoes? Mandatory.

An elegant evening of music, food, dancing, and artful surprises.

November 6, 2026 • 6:30pm

An AcA Signature Event

The Pelican Ball is an AcA’s annual gala celebrating the leading supporters of art & culture in Acadiana and all are welcome to join on November 7, 2026! 

The perfect date night, each Pelican Ball ticket includes food, an open bar, and live music. 

A live auction during the night will provide the only opportunity to acquire a Pelicans on Parade for your business or small-scale pelican for your home. 

Your Ticket Supports

This annual gala is one of AcA’s signature fundraisers. Each ticket supports AcA programs that bring national acts of music & dance, thrilling theater productions, and cutting-edge visual arts exhibitions to Lafayette.

Your support also helps expand AcA’s community programs, which include professional development for practicing artists and Arts in Education experiences for more than 80 schools across the region, impacting 43,000 students per year.

About the Pelican Ball

The Pelican Ball recognizes the people who have shaped the arts in Acadiana through their commitment and service. We honor both individuals who have contributed directly to the arts council’s work and individuals who have shaped the broader cultural life in Acadiana through their work.

We honor these individuals, and we celebrate our thriving culture in the best way we know how: with a night full of food, music, and artful surprises amidst the core ‘flock’ of Acadiana’s cultural community.

Why a Pelican?

In 2000, Acadiana Center for the Arts worked with artist David Fox and students at public elementary schools served by AcA’s arts education programs to design the first “Pelicans on Parade.” In 2021, AcA re-introduced the Pelicans on Parade as part of an annual fundraiser, the Pelican Ball, where new, unique pelicans are auctioned off as part of the benefit for arts education in Acadiana.

Download the original Pelican Field Guide from way back when! This document has images of all of the original Pelicans on Parade and lots of historic info on the project.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Contact Corinne Sprague, AcA Development Director, to secure your sponsorship by emailing Corinne@AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org or calling 337-940-0364.