Ville Platte is the home of the Fall Festival known as the Louisiana Cotton Festival and Le Tounoi de la Ville Platte, held each year in October. The World War II veterans are credited with the starting of the festival as part of their July 4th celebration in 1952. To add to the celebration they revived an old historic sport called Le Tournoi (French for tournament). In the early 1950's many festivals throughout the state were getting their names from local products. So the Louisiana Cotton Festival association was incorporated on August 20,1953 for a period of ninety-nine years. Cotton was chosen as the festival product because Evangeline Parish was the first parish in the South where all cotton farmers had planted and raised one-variety cotton, namely Delta and Pine Land cotton, cotton of uniform staple. 
    "Le Tournoi" (the tournament) is a ancient game of sport. The horseman joust at breakneck speed, endeavoring with their long lances to strike and retain rings set upon post along a large circular track. The Tournoi is now run annually in conjunction with the Louisiana Cotton Festival. The Tournoi riders battles the seven evils of cotton, and they are boll worn, boll weevil, flood, drought, rayon, nylon, and silk.  
    The Louisiana Cotton Queen is chosen from any girl though out the state that must be  17 thru 22 years of age. Queen Cotton is expected to remain single during her reign of one year. The festival officials choose King Cotton, to honor an important person: a senator, a congressman, a state governor, the president of a university est.. The first Cotton King was Dave Pearce and the first Cotton Queen was Janice Marie Herbert, she along with the Tournoi Queen made the trip to Washington D.C. for the Mardi Gras Ball. Queen Cotton has made that trip ever since. 
    An  addition to the Cotton Royalty was selected in 1960 with Colonel Cotton was a person who had greatly helped the community through farming or in business, or civic accomplishments. The first 'Cotton Pickers' was formed in 1957, they are the official festival entertainers that sing and dance at each festival event. Another new feature added in 1962 was the old folks dance known as the "Contradanse". The Cotton Royalty grew in 1962 with the addition of Grand Marshall of the Parade. This honor is giving to a person man or women that is greatly appreciative for the accomplishments they do for the cotton festival or and Ville Platte.
    To this date the Louisiana Cotton FestivaL week starts off with the annual Contredanse held on the Tuesday night, Wednesday afternoon the local 4-H holds a cooking contest and a pet show, along with the opening of the carnival, that will be open each night till the last day of the festival which is Sunday. Friday night at the festival is the annual Fais-Do-Do (street dance), where local bands come to entertain the fair goers. On Saturday morning, the lovely ladies that will compete for the cotton crown report for the weekend. They will be judged in an interview, then that night at the Queens Coronation, the King Cotton and all who attend will find out what lovely lady will be picked as the Cotton Queen. Along with the Contestants are area Festival Queens that come as Queen Cotton's guest, these ladies travel the state promoting each of their festivals and form a sisterhood of the rhinestones.
    On Sunday, there is a beautiful harvest mass to give thanks to our Creator for all of the crops bounty. That afternoon, there is a colorful parade with floats, visiting queens, marching bands, antique cars, and the Tournoi riders in there silvery knighted regalia, and the parade is climaxed by King and Queen Cotton reviewing their subjects on their royal float. After the parade the ancient jousting game known as Le Tournoi is played at the Tournoi grounds, where his very own Tournoi Queen accepts the winning knight after the game is worn. The festival board would like to invite all to this unique tradition, and fall festival, come and have a "Cotton Pickin" Good Time!