Rougarou Festival 2026
Get out with your family and friends to this year's Rougarou Festival from October 23 to October 25 in Houma, LA.
About the Rougarou Fest
Celebrating the rich folklore that lives amongst the Louisiana bayous, the Rougarou Fest is a free-family festival with spooky flair. Everything from live music to Cajun food and the Krewe of Ga Rou parade makes the Rougarou Fest a culture-filled weekend. The proceeds from this event support the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about Louisiana's disappearing coast. In 2024, the Rougarou Fest won Festival of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals.
What to Expect at This Year's Festival
The Rougarou Fest will kick-off on Friday, October 23 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and will continue that weekend on October 24 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and October 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Festival grounds will be at 86 Valhi Blvd. near the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.
On Friday, the festival will kick-off with the national anthem performed by Isaiah Billiot followed by the opening of Folklife Village and kids' games. As an immersive area reserved for practicing rich southern Louisiana traditions, the Folklife Village offers festivalgoers the opportunity to experience the very best, from music and dance to divine cuisine. Connect with artisans, net weavers, and other traditional offerings such as the French tent, hosted by the Bayou Culture Collaborative, which offers French-related programs and French-speaking sessions throughout the weekend.
Kids' games are also located in the Folklife Village, offering fun activities for $1 a ticket. Children can partake in the picture booth, shrimp boot toss, Lutin Toss with bean bags, and even a petting zoo for $5 per entry.
Coastal protection is the primary reason for the Rougarou Fest as it's the main fundraiser for the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center. Festivalgoers can connect with groups to protect and restore Louisiana's gradually-disappearing coast. There are ample volunteer and restoration projects waiting to be discovered.
At 6 p.m. Petty Betty will take the main stage as the Houma-Terrebonne Community Band takes the community stage, followed by trick-or-treating hosted by the Krewe of Mardi Gras. Other events such as a howling contest and film screening of Gremlins will take place as well on October 23.
Saturday is a jam-packed day filled with the continuation of the Folklife Village and kids' games, the introduction Rou-Ga-Con—a comic convention—the Krewe Ga Rou parade, pumpkin lighting with fireworks, and so much more. For performances, Bogue Chitto, Brittany Pool & The RugaRouxs, Hunter Courville & Cajun Fever, and more will take the main stage at different times throughout the day. Community stage performances will occur parallel to main stage performances. Rougarou Queen Josephine Cassou will reign over the Krewe Ga Rou parade at 7 p.m.
The last day of the festival will continue with the Folklife Village and kids' games, while SOLA Center for the Arts will kick-off the community stage, followed by the Brushworks Art & Music Academy Student Band. At 2 p.m., the Rougarou Awards will recognize a few people who made an impact on preserving Louisiana's coast. Two will receive the tradition bearer award, and singular and team awards such as the Woodard award, Coastal Champion award, Leader of the Packs award, and Volunteer of the Year will be presented.
For more information visit rougaroufest.org.
