The rougarou returns, along with the Houma festival that celebrates Cajun culture
South Louisiana myth says the Rougarou is a spirit that will keep returning, and so it is with the Houma festival using the spirit's namesake.
Thousands flocked to the three-day festival that was set to end Sunday evening at the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center near the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.
The festival mixes Halloween with Cajun folklore, especially the rougarou, a werewolf-type creature that according Cajun lore haunts amid the areas's bayous, swamps and marshes.
But for many, the event simply means a passing a good time and enjoying Cajun food, carnival rides, costume contests, a parade and other festivities that raise money for the Wetlands Center.
"We don't have a lot of this stuff in Baton Rouge, so it's nice to come out here and spend time with a family," said Matthew Johnson.
Johnson, his wife and their three children were dressed up as Nintendo characters: Bowser, Princess Peach, Mario, Luigi, and Yoshie. The family had just stopped for a bite to eat after the kids played in the bounce houses.
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On Saturday, Beignet the nutria took center stage for his yearly pardoning. Jonathan Foret, festival founder and Wetlands Center director, said the nutria is so named because Beignet is "as sweet as powdered sugar."
This year, Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser pardoned Beignet. He was cautious with petting the nutria because of its large, orange buck teeth, but after warming up to the rodent, he held the microphone to its mouth to speak. Unlike the rougarou, Beignet is the strong and silent type, and all that could be heard was the crunching of his carrot.
A loud "awwwww" came from the crowd.
"I ought to use you in the next campaign, that was pretty good," Nungesser said.
Nutria are an invasive species that eat away at acres of Louisiana wetlands each year. Beignet gets a pardoning each year because the nutria is a live-in pet with Foret and works as an ambassador for the center's educational programs.
Instead of marsh grass, beignet eats carrots, rabbit treats and romaine lettuce.
"He doesn't destroy our environment, he only destroys my bank account," Foret said.
The festival, back after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic and Hurricane Ida, has grown significantly since its founding eight years ago. The festival has also moved from downtown to the center site.
Foret said he thinks turnout was high because people just want to have a good time after two tough years. There is a lot of rebuilding still to do after Ida, said Foret, but the festival offered a brief reprieve.
"I think people wanted to come out to celebrate post-COVID, post-Ida," Foret said. "To be like, 'we made it,' you know what I mean? We're on the other side of it."
This article originally appeared on The Courier: Rougarou Fest returnds to Houma for first time in two years
