Ranked by USA Today as one of the Top 10 Costume Parties in the United States,  Rougarou Fest returns to Houma this weekend, Oct. 21-23. This free family-friendly festival with a spooky flair celebrates the rich folklore that exists along the bayous of Southeast Louisiana. It showcases live music, cultural activities, children’s activities, Cajun food, the Krewe Ga Rou parade, and so much more. All proceeds go to the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, a nonprofit organization that is revolutionizing education regarding Louisiana’s disappearing coast.

The Rougarou Fest was ranked as one of the Top 10 Costume Parties in the United States by USA Today in 2014, one of the Top 20 Events out of 11 states in the month of October by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2015 and 2019, Best New Event in the state of Louisiana by the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals in 2015, and Festival of the Year by the Louisiana Travel Association in 2020. Named after the werewolf creature of French origin and Cajun lore, the event will feature a costume contest (on Saturday) and the Official Pardoning of a nutria. (This year’s Nutria is named Beignet). The nutria, a native to South America, is an invasive semi-aquatic rodent now living in Louisiana’s wetlands. Nutria cause permanent damage to coastal marshes and other wetlands by feeding on native plants that hold wetland soil together. To control Louisiana’s nutria population, the state offers a bounty for nutria tails.

There is also a ceremony to crown the Rougarou Queen. Each year a Rougarou Queen is selected to represent the festival at various events throughout the region.  Previous queens were selected during a contest at the Rougarou Ball, but we have since changed our selection process.  The queen is now selected from our large team of volunteers by a committee of festival organizers.  This ensures that the queen is aware of the details of our festival since she has been a part of brining our event to life in previous years. She will be crowned on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.

This year’s Rougarou Fest takes place Oct. 21-23 at 7910 Park Avenue in Houma, LA. For more information, click here.