Pork, beer, and good cheer: Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie draws thousands to Houma

A balmy Saturday couldn't dissuade thousands from flocking to Downtown Houma for the third annual Bayou Boucherie.

Families and friends showed up for the free food and entertainment. The Hache Grant Association holds the festival to fund local projects aimed at driving people back to Downtown Houma. The festival featured live music, drinks, competitions, and all manner of pork-based foods. The event centered around the Bayou Terrebonne Distillery, 8043 Main Street, but also closed Gabasse St. Bridge, and Main Street in front of Government Tower.

Main Street was lined with loads of tents from Government Tower to the Twin-span, all competing to see who could cook the best white beans. Nearby, the open parking lot adjacent to the Bayou Terrebonne Distilleries held the aroma of sizzling swine as row upon row of smokers cooked them to golden perfection. On Gabasse St. Bridge stood a large stage where bands traded out throughout the day playing both cover songs and originals.

"I love that it's free, like actually free," Laura Pierce said.

She took her two sons out with Jared Price for an afternoon out with her kids after seeing the event advertised on Facebook. Everyone who arrived received a red ticket which they would give to the white bean cooker they thought was the best, and Pierce's son, 5-year-old, August had already decided Synergy Bank was getting his vote.

The day was hot, but this didn't detract from the crowd as groups continued to roll in. Sandra Patterson and her friends Al and Gayle Voisin, sat underneath a tent to avoid the sun.

"It's so awesome and everybody's here," Patterson said.

The three spoke of the numerous different foods they had tried including Debris Stew, a stew made from pig liver. Patterson said it was wonderful, but her favorite was still the ice cream.

It was her first time at the event, and she said she was definitely coming back next year.

At 2 p.m. the Cajun Cup games began. Teams competed in four events to see who could be the ultimate coonasses. Games included a chicken chase, a pirogue race, a keg toss, and a nail hammering contest. This year's winner was Bayou Butcher, with Blacklist Jiu Jitsu in second and Burlap Karate in third. All three groups won GATR coolers of varying sizes.

Throughout the Boucherie were many stations where the different games were held. In the center of the parking lot a metal cage had three chickens inside. As soon as an announcer said go, a contestant tried to catch one of the chickens as quickly as they could.

Seated outside the chicken chasing cage, Ann Tatum said she has traveled from Hammond every year to visit the event and see friends.

"I fell in love with the city, and I come back as often as I can," Ann Tatum said. "I'm a bourbon girl and when you find good bourbon and good friends you end up in Houma."

She made friends in the city during the Rougarou festival three-years-ago and has been checking out many of the other festivals. Next year she said she is joining the Krewe of Tradition for Mardi Gras.

This is the first year the funds from the boucherie go to a new project. The first two boucheries' proceeds went toward the band stand, which can be seen outside the Terrebonne Courthouse. This time the money will go toward a floating kayak launch which is planned to be built behind the People's Drugstore on Bayou Terrebonne.

One of the Cajun Cup's events, a pirogue race, was held near where the kayak launch is planned. Contestants took turns paddling up and down the bayou to see who could complete the distance with the shortest time.

The nail hammering event was held at a sawhorse. Contestants would hammer a nail into the wood to see who could do it with the least number of swings. On the Gabasse St. Bridge, the keg toss was a fan favorite. Contestants lobbed whiskey kegs into the bayou to see who hurled it the furthest.

A World Wrestling Federation belt was an extra award for this event and Rodney "Grizz" Lirette of Bayou Terrebonne Distillery remains reigning champ of this event. The belt will be on display behind the bar.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Pork, beer, and good cheer: Bayou Terrebonne Boucherie 2023