Festivals, Fêtes, and Fairs

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is a place that knows how to throw a party, where the good times roll all year long and the welcoming philosophy is the more, the merrier. The kind souls of this authentically Cajun destination have a fall packed full of festivals, and they’re ready to welcome visitors back for some food and family fun. Hug your friends, tip the bands, and don’t forget sunscreen.

Kicking off our slate of programming is the inaugural Lockport Bayouside Festival on September 11 at Lockport Park. With a 5K, jambalaya cook-off, swamp pop concert, craft booths, and plenty to keep the kids entertained, there’s nothing more fitting for an early autumnal weekend activity.

Live music is making its way back to its rightful place on the Cajun Bayou. Come September 18, one of the region’s biggest festivals, Acadia Music Fest, takes over Thibodaux. With a lineup featuring local, national, and international talent, food, art, and activities for the little ones, there’s plenty of fun to be had for all ages. This year’s lineup features familiar headlining entertainers like Lupe Fiasco, Better Than Ezra, Payton Smith, Marc Broussard, and Maggie Koerner.

Get a dose of Cajun tradition in Raceland the first weekend in October. La Fête des Vieux Temps, which translates to “Festival of Old Times,” is a local favorite year after year. True Cajun culture will be on display through music, authentic Cajun food, dancing, arts and more.

Come October 8–10, the town of Chackbay is the place to be (just make sure you arrive with an empty stomach). The Louisiana Gumbo Festival lives up to its name, serving over five hundred gallons of the iconic roux-based dish to hungry visitors each year. Back in the seventies, former governor Edwin Edwards named Chackbay the Gumbo Capital of Louisiana. The festival pulls out all the stops to draw in nearly 15,000 visitors—Cajun food, live music, amusement rides, and a street parade are among the main attractions. Plus, all proceeds go to the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department. Speaking of firefighting, the Thibodaux Firemen’s Fair is an annual tradition with roots that go all the way back to the 1800s. Since its inception, the weekend-long festivities have functioned as a fundraiser for the city’s Volunteer Fire Department. This year, the fair takes place October 21–24, with pay-one-price rides, carnival games, a 5K race/fun run, firemen’s parade, live music, auction, and of course, all the fair food you can eat.

On October 29–31, immerse yourself in the culture of the Cajun Bayou at the Larose French Food Festival. The Halloween weekend swamp pop extravaganza features first-rate Cajun fare, live music, an art show, folklife demonstrations, carnival contests, and a petting zoo. You’ll undoubtedly leave with a full belly and appreciation for the joie de vivre spirit of the Cajun way of life.

Then, eat like a local at Big Boy’s Main Street Cook-Off on November 12. Spanning Thibodaux’s historic district, the cook-off showcases the finest of Cajun cuisine prepared with the freshest locally-grown ingredients. More than thirty apron-clad teams will battle it out to see who can craft the best South Louisiana specialties like charbroiled oysters along with shrimp and grits. Stick around November 13 for the Thibodauxville Fall Festival. What began in 1992 as a way to showcase Thibodaux’s vibrant downtown to the community has grown to include over 180 vendors with over 15,000 attendees. Arts, crafts, food, live music, and a rubber duck race along Bayou Lafourche are among the highlights of the annual bash. lacajunbayou.com