<|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|><|begin_of_text|>Acadiana has become known as the home of family friendly Mardi Gras — drawing crowds of more than 300,000 from around the nation and the world.
Mardi Gras in Lafayette may have started out as a small version<wm>, with just five balls, and one big party for a small-town mayor — but it's grown into a national cultural phenomenon and one very expensive habit of the South in Louisiana.
For a fraction of the cost of the real deal, it's not hard to travel and to bring back memories that are often just as big. Laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll) – as the Cajuns and Acadianacans call it — is not a secret.
For one</wm>, the city's efforts to capture its vibrant culture through music, art, and historical events are well