At the first hint of cooler weather, Louisianans across the state start filling their calendars with entries heralding fall festival season. And in Louisiana, nowhere boasts a more jam-packed fall festival calendar than Lafourche Parish, a.k.a. “Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou. With major events transforming the towns and villages lining the bayou just about every weekend, visitors will find ample opportunities to come on down, enjoy spirited live music and delicious food, and find out why, when the people of Lafourche Parish throw a party, the world takes notice.
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Start October off right at La Fete Des Vieux Temps, or the "Festival of Old Times," on October 6—8.
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Almost 500 gallons of chicken, sausage, and seafood gumbos are prepared and served during the Louisiana Gumbo Festival.
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Live music and dancing at the Louisiana Gumbo Festival in Chackbay, October 13—15, 2023
To get your October started off right, begin with La Fete Des Vieux Temps, or the “Festival of Old Times,” taking place October 6—8 this year. Authentic Cajun culture is on full display at this long-running celebration in Raceland. It comes in the form of live music by bands including Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition, energetic dancing, rides, Cajun delicacies, and an arts and crafts show. From October 13—15, point your wheels towards Chackbay, the "Gumbo Capitol of Louisiana," for the Louisiana Gumbo Festival. With nearly 500 gallons of chicken, sausage, and seafood gumbos cooked and served during this landmark celebration of Louisiana’s iconic soup, you’ll discover that, in Lafourche Parish, no two gumbos are exactly alike.
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At Larose's French Food Festival, sample French/Cajun culinary specialties, then dance those calories right off again.
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Delicious Lafourche Parish specialties are served at the French Food Fest, October 27—29 in Larose, LA
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Sunset at the main stage during the Acadia Music Festival, October 28.
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Dumpstaphunk, live onstage at Acadia Music Fest. This year's lineup includes Marcus King, Niko Moon, and Better Than Ezra.
After whetting your appetite with gumbo, you might choose to test it further at Larose’s French Food Festival (October 27—29). This is a chance to sample the full spectrum of French/Cajun culinary specialties, then dance those calories off again during three days of live music from big name Cajun and Zydeco musicians like Chubby Carrier, Waylon Thibodaux, and Ryan Foret. Finish off the month at the Acadia Music Fest (October 28 in Thibodaux). This one-day outdoor music festival features a strong line-up of local, national, and international musicians, including Marcus King, Niko Moon, and Better Than Ezra.
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During the Thibodeauxville Fall Festival, the famous Rubber Duck Race returns to the waters of Bayou Lafourche.
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Big Boys Main Street Cook Off brings live music to historic downtown Thibodaux.
November kicks off with LA Cajun Bayou’s first ever BBQ, Bourbon, & Blues Fest (November 4). The BBQ masters of Bayou Lafourche will showcase their fare, and festivalgoers get to spend a day taste-testing their way through the finest BBQ in the region, served alongside more than 30 brands of whiskey. November’s a busy month in Thibodaux, which welcomes all comers with back-to-back events Big Boy’s Main Street Cook Off (November 10), and the beloved Thibodeauxville Fall Festival (November 11). For Big Boy’s, enjoy tastings from dozens of local chefs while celebrating with live music. To create a more enjoyable experience, Big Boy’s is offering a limited number of tickets this year so don’t hold off on purchasing your admission to this festival that embodies the culture of Thibodaux and Lafourche Parish. ($15 online presale, $20 at the gate, and kids 10-under free) The party continues the next day at Thibodeauxville Fall Festival, an award-winning event that brings three stages of live music, dozens of arts, crafts, and food booths, a classic car show, and the famous Bayou Lafourche rubber duck race, to historic Downtown Thibodaux.
With fall weather coming, good times are waiting, all along historic Bayou Lafourche. Find a full listing of festivals and events at Louisiana Cajun Bayou.
