News in Louisiana's Cajun Bayou

When people think of America’s great food cities, New Orleans often tops the list. But it’s not just big cities that know their way around a menu. Plenty of small towns are noted for their food scenes, too … but only one in Louisiana! On June 17, USA Today 10Best announced that Thibodaux is the #2-ranked Best Small Town Food Scene in the entire United States. This is Thibodaux’s fourth time being nominated, and its second year in a row of taking the #2 position.

This was a Reader’s Choice Award contest, in which millions of the website’s readers voted for their favorite nominees in several “best small town” categories. After four weeks, the voting closed and the winners were announced on June 17. Not only did Thibodaux receive this honor, but it was the only Louisiana destination to be included on the list of nominees, proving that it continues to make its mark as one of the South’s top culinary destinations.

If you’re the kind of person who sees the world through a photographer’s lens or enjoys being creative, you’re in luck. We’ve rounded up some of the most “Instagrammable” spots throughout Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou. Whether you’re looking to up your Instagram game, find a new spot for your family pictures, or just need an excuse to get out and have some fun, these spots are guaranteed to give you the perfect #TravelTuesday or #PhotoOfTheDay post that will be the envy of all your friends.

Thibodaux Downtown Art Mural
505 W 2nd St, Thibodaux, LA, 70301

Spring is making its way down the Bayou, brining warmer weather and plenty of fun along with it. Our festival season is in full bloom right now … and we encourage visitors and residents to see what all the buzz is about.

This year, Mardi Gras is back on the Bayou and better than ever! Because COVID put a damper on last year’s celebrations, we have a lot of Mardi Gras to make up for in 2022. Not to worry … because we know how to celebrate here on the Bayou! From February 20 to March 1 (Fat Tuesday), krewes will be parading throughout Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou. You can find all the parade routes HERE. We recommend that you practice catching your throws now, just so you’ll be prepared in a couple of weeks. Grab some beads and get ready for some reveling … and laissez les bon temps rouler!

Sunday, February 20
Krewe of Shaka in Thibodaux, 12:30 p.m.
Krewe of Ambrosia in Thibodaux, 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 26
Krewe of Apollo in Lockport, 12:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 27
Krewe of Cleophas in Thibodaux, 12:30 p.m.
Krewe of Chronos in Thibodaux, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 1
Krewe of Gheens in Gheens, 11:00 a.m.
Krewe des Couyons in Golden Meadow, 12:00 p.m.
Krewe of Ghana in Thibodaux, 1:00 p.m.
Krewe of Choupic in Chackbay, 1:00 p.m.

And if you find yourself hungry and in the Mardi Gras spirit with all these parades, here are the best spots to get some king cake. We hope you’re the lucky one who finds the baby inside!
The Willow Café
713 West Third Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301
985-448-0444

Ninette’s Cake Shop
1050 S. Acadia Road, Thibodaux, LA 70301
985-447-1714

The Cake Shop
305 Crescent Avenue, Lockport, LA 70374
985-532-6339

Spahr’s Seafood (featuring king cake beignets)
601 W. Fourth Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301
3682 Highway 90 E., Des Allemands, LA 70030
16816 Highway 3235, Galliano, LA 70345
985-448-0487
Alumni Grill (featuring king cake cheesecake and milkshakes)
1130 LA-1, Thibodaux, LA 70301
985-492-1324

Cajun Pecan House
14808 W. Main Street, Cut Off, LA 70345
985-632-2337

If you’re interested in celebrating Mardi Gras with us but can’t make it to Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou to party in person, Cajun Pecan House ships its king cakes nationwide, offering the tastes of Carnival delivered right to your front door.

Have the perfect Mardi Gras outfit? Trying a king cake milkshake for the first time? Celebrating at home with your own king cake? Be sure to share it with us on social media using the hashtag #CajunBayouMardiGras.

January is the month of “new,” as we say goodbye to 2021, we look forward to the new year by establishing goals and perhaps dreams of new adventures ahead. Did you make a resolution to become more active this year? Or to step outside your comfort zone and try new things? Perhaps you plan to adopt a new hobby. Whatever you’ve set your sights on doing in 2022, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is ready to support the “new” you in this new year. Here are some ideas to get you started:

If you’re looking to be more active or spend more time outside …

Nicholls State Bayou-Side Park opened last summer so locals and visitors would have an incredibly accessible place to launch their own kayaks and paddle boards right in the heart of Thibodaux. A paddle up and down Bayou Lafourche is a great way to explore something new while being active and enjoying the great outdoors.

‘Tis the season to be jolly in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou! Here in Lafourche Parish, we’re known for our unique Cajun culture, and we amp it up just a little bit more at Christmastime. We have a few special traditions you won’t find in other spots around the planet.

Instead of Santa Claus arriving on Christmas Eve, children all along the bayou eagerly await the appearance of Papa Noel. Similar to Santa (but -- dare we say – better) Papa Noel leaves toys for the kids, but he ditches the flying sleigh and reindeer and instead travels via pirogue, which is basically a Cajun canoe, along the waters of the bayou. And – BIG bonus – that pirogue is pulled by alligators instead of reindeer!

Yeah. We know. How could it get better? Well … we light bonfires along the bayou to help Papa Noel find his way to each and every home to deliver his toys. On Christmas Eve, you see little bonfires along the bayou – best spotted if you travel by boat, but please be sure you don’t get in Papa Noel’s way and slow down his journey!

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is still deep in recovery mode after Hurricane Ida struck in late August. Residents, business owners, work crews, friends and family are all hard at work rebuilding our beloved Lafourche Parish. For those who find themselves wanting a well-deserved break and a reason to smile, the parish will be home to several events that welcome everyone to join the fun.

The Pelican State Goes to War

November 1 – December 15, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

On August 29, Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing devastation and destruction to our beloved bayou. Businesses, homes and treasured belongings were damaged … some temporarily and others permanently. However, thanks to lots of hard work, dedication and Louisianan resiliency, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is busy rebuilding.

One month out, we would not be where we are without the help of several tourism partners who selflessly stepped forward in our time of need and lent a helping hand.

Some folks say that here in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, we’ll take any excuse to celebrate. They’re not wrong. But we think we have a great reason to throw a socially distanced party on Saturday, August 28, when a Boat Parade will be our way of celebrating the removal of the weir that’s been restricting access to parts of our beloved Bayou Lafourche.

First, a quick vocabulary lesson: Our word of the day is “weir,” a noun that describes a structure similar to a dam. A weir is used to regulate water flow, and ours was constructed in 1969 to create a water reservoir for water treatment facilities and sugar mills north of the weir. While it served its original purpose, it has not only impeded the flow of water in Bayou Lafourche, but also prevented boat access in Bayou Lafourche which is a major impediment to recreational boaters of the bayou region. With the recent completion of other projects that allow more water to be introduced into the bayou and new water control structures, the water elevations of Bayou Lafourche can be safely managed without needing the weir. Boats can now move both up and down Bayou Lafourche and freely access the town of Thibodaux, which had previously been cut off by the weir. And we think THAT is reason to celebrate!
Here in coastal Louisiana, we love a parade. And we love being out on the water. So … a boat parade is the beautiful mashup of two things we’re passionate about. The parade is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 28. The event is free and open to the public, and everyone is encouraged to participate by launching a paddleboard or kayak from the Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center or a motorized boat from Leighton Boat Launch in Thibodaux.

The parade route travels down the bayou, turning around at Nicholls State University, and returns to Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center with the total distance being a bit over 3 miles. The journey will be accompanied by a live soundtrack provided by local musicians set up at five locations on the shoreline along the way. The parade route also allows for a glimpse of the brand new Nicholls State Bayou-Side Park, opening across from the university campus for the event. Bayou-Side Park is a public space with areas for loading and unloading boats, a floating dock, bike racks, a pavilion, an outdoor classroom, and more.

Attractions: Ours highlight our unique heritage, food, crafts, culture and natural history.

Bayou: Bayou Lafourche is where we live, work and play! Visit Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center every Friday in the Summer for their Boat Tours on Bayou Lafourche!



Cajun Culture: What you see – and hear and taste – in Lafourche Parish is real Cajun.

Drive: Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou is a short 45 minute drive from New Orleans, which means it’s also a terrific road trip from other points in Louisiana as well as Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.

E.D. White Home & Museum: This National Historic Landmark was home to a former governor and his son, a chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Food Trail: The Cajun Bayou Food Trail is a great way to experience all the tastes of the Bayou.

Gulf of Mexico: Bayou Lafourche will take you straight to the Gulf, where you can go out with one of our many fishing charters.

Heritage: Visit the Bayou Lafourche Folklife & Heritage Museum for some general background.

Industry: We’re home to seafood, sugar and petroleum.

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve: Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center is a phenomenal place to learn about Cajun life through exhibits, films and special activities.



King Cake: The Cajun Pecan House in Cut Off has a few great versions of this Mardi Gras cake and even ships nationwide.

Laurel Valley Village: The largest surviving 19th- and 20th-century sugar plantation complex in the United States, Laurel Valley is still a working sugarcane farm.

Mardi Gras: An important part of our culture.. and no you can never take home too many Mardi Gras beads!



Native Americans: You can visit the United Houma Nation Settlement School Museum to learn about the first people to live and work along the Bayou.

Outdoors: Our climate ensures that locals and visitors alike can have year-round fun outside.


People: Our greatest resource – and the element that will keep you coming back – our people.

Questions: Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Visitor Center is the best place to start a visit here.

Recreation: We have plenty of water - and land-based activities, from kayaking to hiking.

Swamp Tours: There’s no better way to spot an alligator than on one of our swamp tours!

Thibodaux: Located at the top of Lafourche Parish, it is a great spot to do some local shopping and delicious dining.


University: Nicholls State University in Thibodaux is home to the John Folse Culinary Institute dedicated to the preservation of our state’s culinary heritage.

Visitor: That’s YOU! Life isn’t complete until you come see Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou yourself.

Wildlife: Here you’ll find plenty of interesting critters, with everything from alligators to eagles.



X-tremely Good: Our response when people ask us how the food is in Louisiana's Cajun Bayou.



Youngsters: The Bayou Country Children’s Museum helps kids learn our special stories in an interactive way.

Zydeco: Its fast tempo beat is perfect for dancing to, and we encourage you to don a washboard and join the band.