Hundreds of people, many in ghoulish Halloween costumes, converged today on the Courthouse Square in downtown Houma for the third annual Rougarou Festival.
Named for a werewolf-like creature of Cajun lore, the event is meant to raise awareness for coastal land loss in Louisiana and to raise money for educational programs at Houma's Wetlands Discovery Center.
The family-friendly festival, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., included live music, kids' games, a run from the zombies and a costume contest.
Jonathan Foret, Rougarou Fest organizer and Wetlands Center director, said the festival is less about its grizzly namesake and more about the cultural link between the people and the wetlands.
“When we were very young, our parents would tell us stories about the Rougarou to keep us from misbehaving or to keep us out of harm's way. They would say, 'Don't go into the marsh at night because the Rougarou is going to get you,' ” Foret said.
Unfortunately, with the persistence of coastal erosion, the area haunted by the Rougarou gets smaller every year.
“The need for the Rougarou is to keep kids in line and to keep kids out of the marsh and things like that. Without the marsh and without our wetlands there will be no need for the stories of the Rougarou,” Foret said.
This intimate link between the land and the culture of the people of south Louisiana is what the Rougarou Fest is all about, Foret said.
“If the Rougarou doesn't have a place to live, then neither do we. And it's also about a celebration of our culture and heritage,” he said.
Rougarou Fest was born out of the need to place attention on the sobering reality of coastal land loss while also having a good time. Its spooky Halloween theme and parade of zombies has also led to national attention. Earlier this month, USA Today named Rougarou Fest as one of the top 10 costume parties in the U.S.
“What makes me excited about receiving that national recognition is that it sort of passes the microphone to us to then allow us to give our message,” Foret said. “So it is very important because it provides us an opportunity to reach a much greater audience.”
Having people from outside southeast Louisiana attend and learn about coastal erosion is important.
In its inaugural year, the festival made roughly $11,000 in its one day. Last year, Foret said the sales grew to nearly $44,000.
The Rougarou has already begun preparations on 2015's festival. Foret said next year the festival will be a two-day affair on Oct. 24 and 25 to accommodate growing interest from around the country.
Thibodaux native Herman Hall attended today's festival dressed as a “redneck clown” with a green balding wig, skewed face paint and short denim cutoff shorts.
Hall praised the atmosphere and music as the sounds of Houma-based band Sheauxdown echoed throughout the square.
“I'll definitely come back next year,” Hall said.