Kids have plenty of choices when it comes to recreation

E N T E RTA I N M E N T Plenty of fun coming to Houma, Thibodaux

By Scott Yoshonis News Editor

Looking for something fun to do? No need to leave town. Both the HoumaTerrebonne Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd., and the Warren J. Harang Municipal Auditorium in Thibodaux, 310 N. Canal Blvd., offer fun-filled events year-round.

They're also places where the community gathers for Carnival balls, weddings, banquets and other functions.

To learn more, call the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center at 850-4657 or the Harang Municipal Auditorium at 446-7160.

Here's the lineup of events scheduled as of mid-January. Events are added throughout the year.

Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center March 14-15: Bayou Home Show. March 21: Craftin' Cajuns Spring Craft Show. March 28: The Haven Gala. March 31: Houma Louisiana Wedding Expo. April 3-5: The Streetz Dance Convention and Competition. April 25: Relay for Life Terrebonne Parish. May 16: Rougarou Ball. June 19-21: Steubenville on the Bayou. Aug. 22: Junior Auxiliary of Houma's Dancing With the Stars.

Harang Municipal Auditorium Feb. 20: Chackbay Elementary School Cajun Carnival. March 7: E.D. White Drummin' and Spinnin' On the Bayou Percussion Competition. March 13-17: Biddy Basketball World Tournament. March 21: Bayou Community Academy Annual Building Fund Gala. March 28-29: Louisiana Mississippi Color Guard and Percussion Circuit Championship. April 18: Relay for Life of Thibodaux. July 11: Hail Mary Animal Rescue "Who Let the Dogs Out" Fundraiser. Aug. 8: South Thibodaux Fire Department Dance. Sept. 10-13: Ta Wa Si Antiques and Collectables Show. Dec. 10: Senior Citizen Holiday luncheon.

FESTIVAL S Local culture celebrated in weekend get-togethers

By Scott Yoshonis News Editor

Cajuns love to embrace and celebrate their unique heritage, and any excuse to throw a community party will do.

From food and music to crafts and culture, there is a festival for every taste in Terrebonne and Lafourche.

Here are five examples of annual celebrations of everything Cajun. Unless otherwise noted, these events are free to the public. Unless listed, dates have not been set.

Thibodaux Firemen's Fair, late April or early May

One of the area's biggest annual events, and the largest volunteer fire fundraiser in the country, giving locals and visitors an excellent chance to take in some of the impressive music lineup, dine on mahy delicious food options, sip a drink, play a game or take a spin on some of the thrilling rides.

Louisiana Gumbo Festival, Chackbay, early October

A celebration of the Cajun National Dish, 2020 will mark the 49th edition of the festival, with live music, a car show, live and silent auctions and rides for the kids. All the Cajun food favorites are sold, but the center of attention is the gumbo. Volunteers at the festival, the major annual fundraiser for the Chackbay Volunteer Fire Department, will make and serve over 500 gallons of gumbo, with diners enjoying their choice of the seafood or chicken and sausage varieties.

Voice of the Wetlands Festival, Houma, early October

The festival is the brainchild of renowned Louisiana guitarist Tab Benoit, who returns to his hometown of Houma bringing some of the very best musical talent with him to raise funds and awareness for the coastal wetlands of Louisiana. The festival is free, but lots of food, drink and other items are available for sale, with all of the proceeds going toward coastal preservation.

Rougarou Festival, Houma, Oct. 24-25 The Rougarou Festival has become one of the biggest events in an area used to big events. Locals celebrate the mythical swamp monster by dressing up in traditional and Halloween garb, enjoying lots of Cajun foods and listening to live music by up to a dozen

different bands. The festival includes a parade through downtown Houma with a spooky Halloween vibe. Starting with the 2020 festival, it will take place at the 2.4-acre site near the Terrebonne Parish’s Main Library and next door to the Courtyard by Marriott. Laurel Valley Spring Festival, Thibodaux, spring and fall

There are a lot of festivals in these parts, and all of them look up to the Laurel Valley Spring Festival, the oldest cultural festival in the area. The festival helps to preserve and display the history of south Louisiana in a unique way, on a still-functioning sugar-cane plantation, and features arts and crafts, food vendors, live music and cultural demonstrations including antique engines and boat building.