Every August the Museum hosts the only Cucuzza Day Celebration in the US. 

A Cucuzza is an Italian summer squash which was a staple for the local immigrants. These squash can grow up to 3 - 6 feet in length, sometimes growing up to 10 inches in just one day. The seeds were dried out and saved from the last Cucuzza of the season, then shared among friends and relatives hoping to grow their own the next season. Contact the museum for seeds for planting.

Today, in many Italian American home gardens, the Cucuzza grows like wildfire along a fence or trellis in late summer months.

Hosted here at the Independence Italian Cultural Museum.

524 Pine Street, Independence, LA 70443

Every Year we hold the:

Cucuzza Cooking Contest - ($10 entrance fee)

Cucuzza Growing Contest

Contests for Kids As well

Please contact the museum for further information and enter contests.