Fall in Houma: Muu Muus, Rougarou & More!
Down here in Houma, fall means one thing… festival season! The air gets a little cooler, the music gets a little louder, and weekends are made for getting out and celebrating.
From the muu-muus of the Maw Maw Walker to the art, music and culture of Bayou Arts Fest, old-fashioned fair fun down the bayou and the spooky folklore of Rougarou Fest, Fall Festival Season is packed with reasons to make your way to Louisiana’s Bayou Country.
HERO FEST
September 18–20, 2026 | Barry P. Bonvillain Civic Center
Festival season gets an early start with Hero Fest, a three-day celebration honoring the first responders who serve Terrebonne Parish and the surrounding communities.
From live music and fair rides to food, arts and crafts, a 5K and live auction, there’s plenty happening throughout the weekend for the whole family. This year’s music lineup is a big one, featuring John Foster, Eli Young Band, Drowning Pool, Wayne Toups, Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band and more.
MAW MAW WALKER
October 3, 2026 | Downtown Houma
Break out the muu-muu and start practicing your best Maw Maw impression as the 6th Annual Maw Maw Walker takes over Downtown Houma on October 3!
Part costume party, part downtown stroll and a whole lot of fun, this one-of-a-kind event celebrates the larger-than-life spirit of our beloved Cajun maw maws while supporting the local businesses that keep Downtown Houma thriving. Come dressed in your finest grandma getup and spend the day enjoying food, music, a costume contest, raffles and plenty of laughs along the way.
Participation in the walk is free, or register for $20 to enter the costume contest and raffle and receive exclusive Maw Maw Walker swag.
BAYOU ARTS FEST
October 10, 2026 | Downtown Houma
Art, music, food and Louisiana culture fill the streets of Downtown Houma for the award-winning Bayou Arts Fest on October 10.
This free, family-friendly festival brings together artists, makers, musicians and tradition bearers for a full day celebrating the creativity and culture of South Louisiana. Browse booths filled with local art and handmade goods, grab something delicious to eat, bring the kids to the Kids’ Zone and catch live performances throughout the day.
This year’s Main Stage features an all-Louisiana music lineup, with legendary rock band Zebra headlining the festival. The Culture Collective also returns, highlighting the Cajun, Creole, Vietnamese, Native American and other cultures that have helped shape our bayou communities.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., so plan to stick around and enjoy Downtown Houma well into the evening.
BAYOU DULARGE CAJUN FAIR
October 16–18, 2026 | Dularge
Head down the bayou October 16–18 for a weekend of good food, carnival rides and old-fashioned community fun at the Bayou Dularge Cajun Fair.
A longtime local tradition hosted by the Knights of Columbus, the fair brings families together for three days filled with rides, games, entertainment and plenty of Cajun cooking. Add in a live auction, raffle prizes and the kind of laid-back atmosphere you can only find down the bayou, and you’ve got all the makings of a classic Louisiana fall weekend.
MAC N’ CHEESE FESTIVAL
October 17, 2026 | Downtown Houma Courthouse Square
Hope you came hungry. After a successful first year, the Mac N’ Cheese Festival is back, and this time it’s bringing all that cheesy goodness to October.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Courthouse Square, festivalgoers can dig into all-you-can-eat mac & cheese while teams compete for cook-off bragging rights. Between bites, enjoy live music and browse local craft vendors throughout Downtown Houma.
Admission is $10, with proceeds supporting Gulf Coast Social Services and its mission to help people with mental, physical and behavioral challenges live more independently and improve their quality of life.
ROUGAROU FEST
October 23–25, 2026 | Houma
Things get a little spooky in Bayou Country when Rougarou Fest returns October 23–25.
Inspired by the legendary creature that has haunted the stories of Louisiana’s bayous for generations, this free, family-friendly festival celebrates the folklore, traditions and culture of Southeast Louisiana with three days of live music, Cajun food, arts and crafts, children’s activities and plenty of spooky fun.
Explore the Folklife Village to meet local tradition bearers and experience cultural demonstrations, catch the costume contest, learn about Louisiana’s disappearing coast and don’t miss the Krewe Ga Rou Parade, where costumed revelers, creatures and the Rougarou himself take over the festival grounds.
And the fun supports an important cause. Rougarou Fest is the primary fundraiser for the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center, helping support education and awareness surrounding Louisiana’s disappearing coast.
It’s weird. It’s wonderful. And it’s one of those festivals you could only find in Louisiana’s Bayou Country.