BASILE, La (KLFY) – Developed as a village in 1911, and as the town of Basile in 1946, this town is no stranger to the agriculture industry.

“The people that were here at the time were mostly farmers and merchants,” said Mark Denette, Mayor of Basile.

Fast forward a few years to the 60’s, Mayor Denette says the area became well-known for the music.

“They would literally bus in people to Basile to come listen to Cajun music that they had out here,” said Mayor Denette.

And here’s a little tidbit, some of today’s well-known Cajun musicians actually hail from the area.

“We’re proud to say that Dewey Balfa and Nathan Abshire, along with Boi Sec Ardoin and Nonc Allie are all from Basile,” said Mayor Denette. “The Cajun/Zydeco heritage started in this general area.”

Known as ‘Big Basile’, the small town of about 1800 hosts a pretty unique festival every year to celebrate the swine, which dates back several years ago.

“They sold pigs here,” said Mayor Denette. “Basile was known to sell pigs at what they would call the pig barn.”

A tradition that has been celebrated for 50 years now through the Swine Festival every November.

So if you’re ever passing through Evangeline Parish, ‘Big Basile’ is a town worth exploring.