The annual Rougarou Fest takes place this weekend in Houma. The rougarou is a legendary creature in French communities linked to traditional concepts of the werewolf. The stories of the creature known as a rougarou are all connected to francophone cultures through a common derived belief in the loup-garou. Loup is French for wolf, and garou is a man who transforms into an animal. If you were a fan of the television series NCIS: New Orleans, you may recall an episode that featured possible sightings of the rougarou. In the Cajun legends, the creature is said to prowl the swamps around Acadiana and Greater New Orleans, and the sugar cane fields and woodlands of the regions. The rougarou most often is described as a creature with a human body and the head of a wolf or dog, similar to the werewolf legend.
The free Rougarou Fest celebrates the rich folklore that exists along the bayous of Southeast Louisiana. The Rougarou Fest was ranked as one of the Top 10 Costume Parties in the United States by USA Today in 2014 and one of the Top 20 Events out of 11 states in the month of October by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2015 and 2019.
The festival features live music, cultural and children’s activities, and Cajun food. The Krewe Ga Rou parade is the main attraction with friends, families, civic organizations and businesses coming together to make a beautiful spectacle. There are boats decorated as floats, giant puppets, dancing zombies and witches, ghouls handing out candy, and our Rougarou Queen!
The parade starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2022. The parade route starts at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center parking lot adjacent to the skate park, turns left onto Barrow Street, turns left onto HWY 311, turns left onto Civic Center Blvd., turns left into the Civic Center parking lot, crosses in front of the Civic Center under the front awning and returns to the parking lot adjacent to the skate park where it will disband. The route is approximately one mile long.
The music lineup is as follows:
Friday, October 21
ReauxShambo Band 6 p.m.
The Wolfe Johns Blues Band 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 22
Cajun Music Preservation Society 12 p.m.
Back Roots 1 p.m.
Sista Slick and the Brothas 3 p.m.
The 45s 5 p.m.
Nonc Nu and the Wild Matous 8 p.m.
Sunday, October 23
Bang Band 12 p.m.
Tradition Bearer Awards 2 p.m.
Ben Labat 3 p.m.
The costume contest starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 22. Contestants can only enter one category, and each category is limited to 100 contestants on a first-come-first-served basis. Winners will receive a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place trophy, and the Best Overall Costume is selected from the winners in the other categories. The categories are as follows: Pets, Scariest, Movie Characters, Kids’ Costumes 5 and under, Kids’ Costumes 6 to 12, Best Overall.
7910 Park Ave., Houma, Louisiana. (985) 580-7289. For more information go here.
