Day 2 of Festival International: Culture moves because communities choose it

On Day Two of Festival International, I saw firsthand how 1,500 volunteers are the heartbeat of this free, global celebration. From helping international artists to protecting booths during a sudden storm, volunteers kept culture moving even when the skies turned gray. From visiting the Acadiana Center for the Arts to watching Yallah Yallah electrify the main stage, today was a reminder that access to culture isn’t just given — it’s built by the hands and hearts of a community that believes in it.

Click this link to view my day 2 video!

Video Script:

Culture moves freely — because communities choose to carry it.

Hi everyone, I’m Dorene, a Political Communication student at LSU, covering Festival International through the lens of culture, access, and global community.

Today, I saw the true foundation that keeps a free, accessible festival alive — its volunteers.

I started my morning volunteering at the hotel hosting the international artists, where I met some of the 1,500 individuals who are the heartbeat of this event. Some were Lafayette locals, others had traveled in from different cities, but all shared one thing in common: a belief that culture should be shared, protected, and celebrated.

Volunteers are the backbone of this festival.

They aren’t just helping — they’re building a community where cultural exchange is possible without barriers.

Their 2,500 shifts ensure that anyone — no matter their background — can walk these streets, hear these songs, and experience the world without a ticket price standing in the way.

Later, I met with my team at Reve Coffee, and we sat down with Carly Courville, the festival’s Marketing Director and Volunteer Coordinator. Listening to her describe the scale of the effort — the passion it takes to organize thousands of volunteer shifts — made it clear: this festival is free because people choose to give.

We continued our day by visiting the Acadiana Center for the Arts, where festivalgoers can experience world-class galleries at a reduced admission, yet another reflection of a community committed to making art and culture accessible to everyone.

We explored local artisans, basket weavers, and musicians — each one adding their voice to a larger chorus of global storytelling.

In the afternoon, I headed back to the main stage to catch another performance from Yallah Yallah. Their energy filled the air — until a sudden storm forced a shutdown. And again, it was the volunteers who sprang into action — covering booths, guiding the crowd, protecting both artists and their work.

Even in the rain, the festival’s spirit didn’t break. Street performers kept playing, and crowds kept dancing through the puddles. Because culture doesn’t stop for a storm — and neither does a community built on connection.

Today, every sign we passed felt more real:

“Music Brings Us Together.”

“Let Culture Lead.”

And thanks to the volunteers — the unseen architects of access and unity — culture isn’t just leading. It’s thriving.