Author Archives: Ian Wallis

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism Wins Shining Example Award from Southeast Tourism Society

Raceland, Louisiana (September 29, 2023) – Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, the destination marketing organization for Lafourche Parish, announced Friday they were a recipient of a Shining Example Award for Best Marketing from the Southeast Tourism Society (STS). Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou was selected among nominations from several destinations across the Southeast, and were on hand to receive the award at the STS Connections Conference in Jackson, MS on Wednesday night.

The award recognizes the “You Gotta Try This!” campaign which was launched by Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou in April 2022. The campaign aimed to promote the unique and flavorful culinary scene in Lafourche Parish, and was supported through targeted digital and print media, social media, and public relations outreach.

“We are very thankful to be recognized on a regional level for our marketing efforts over the last year for the “You Gotta Try This” campaign” said President/CEO Cody A. Gray. “We are always encouraging people to wander off the eatin’ path while visiting Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, and are appreciative of all of our tourism partners who helped us achieve this award.”

The tourism office worked with several restaurants and tourism partners up and down the bayou to collect new photo and video assets, and this year relaunched their Cajun Bayou Food Trail with the addition of three new Food Trail restaurants and a new Food Trail T-shirt.

For more information about Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, visit their website at lacajunbayou.com. For more information about the Southeast Tourism Society, visit their website at southeasttourism.org.

It's Fall Y'all! Come Celebrate our Upcoming Events in Louisiana's Cajun Bayou!

It’s fall, y’all … which means that festival season is in full swing in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou. We’re back this season with many of the same festivals that everyone already knows and loves – such as the French Food Festival, Acadia Music Fest (Pictured above), La Fete Des Vieux Temps and more! You won't be-leaf what is happening this Fall, so come join us and check out below what else is happening up and down the bayou:

La Fete des Vieux Temps
October 6-8

Immerse yourself in authentic Cajun culture with the “Festival of Old Times,” an event featuring tasty Cajun food (as if there’s any other kind), music, dancing, and an arts-and-crafts show. Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism now oversee events at the Lafourche Pavilion, so (not to be biased) this year’s event is sure to be the best one yet!

Louisiana Gumbo Festival
October 13-15

Do you prefer your gumbo with sausage? Or perhaps with chicken? Maybe seafood? Whatever your preference, come enjoy authentic gumbo made from scratch at the Louisiana Gumbo Festival, along with live music and demonstrations. Nearly 500 gallons of gumbo will be made throughout the weekend, so come hungry!
Coco’s 10th Birthday Carnival
October 21

Oh, snap! It’s the 10th birthday of Coco, the gator mascot for the Bayou County Children’s Museum. Grab the kids and celebrate big top-style with carnival rides and games, hot air balloon rides and more. See you and your enfants there later, alligator!

Monsters on Main
October 27

Bring your little ghosts and ghouls to Downtown Thibodaux for a fun evening of free trick-or-treating with participating businesses.

French Food Festival
October 27-29

We hope you’ve got some stretchy pants, because this festival celebrates local dishes influenced by both the French and Cajun cultures. Sample the various dishes while taking in the live music … but be sure to not eat so much that you can’t join in the dancing. The festival received a 2022 Lafourche Parish Bayou Ambassador Award and was named the parish’s 2022 Event of the Year, so come see what the buzz is all about.

Acadia Music Fest
October 28

Local, national and international artists come together on one day in Thibodaux for the Acadia Music Fest. This year, the festival is headlined by Marcus King with appearances by Better Than Ezra, Niko Moon and more. Get your tickets by visiting the link HERE.

BBQ, Bourbon & Blues Festival
November 4

Enjoy the finer things in life with the first annual BBQ, Bourbon & Blues Festival … and by “finer things,” we mean great food, great drinks and great music. Just $10 gets you admission to the festival (and plenty of BBQ joints selling everything from pork to chicken to brisket), and an additional $100 admission (for those 18 and older, of course!) provides entry to the bourbon tasting area, where bourbon lovers get a commemorative glass and tastings from more than 30 vendors.

Big Boys Main St. Cook Off
November 10

As a kickoff to Thibodeauxville Fall Festival weekend, dozens of chefs gather in Downtown Thibodaux to compete in a cook-off that showcases Cajun cuisine with local ingredients straight from the bayou. Your $10 admission gets you access to free samples from the cook-off teams and local entertainment as you partake in a true Southern block party. Check out what this festival is all about HERE!

Thibodeauxville Fall Festival
November 11

People come from all over to enjoy good Cajun food, art vendors, live music, a car show and the famous rubber duck race at this free festival. Check out what the festival is all about HERE!

We are fall about a good time, so let festival season commence. It’s time to get your Cajun on!

(Photo Credit: Kyle Valdez)

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism Welcomes New Office/Finance Manager

Raceland, Louisiana (September 26, 2023) – Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism, the destination marketing organization for Lafourche Parish, welcomed its new Office/Finance Manager this month in the hiring of Brandi Hebert.

Hebert fills a position that had been vacated since late August and will play a crucial part of the Cajun Bayou Tourism team moving forward. Tasked with managing all office and finance matters, Brandi will also take on the handling of the Lafourche Pavilion and will work with the local organizations who hold their events there.

“We are very excited to have Brandi join our close-knit family here at Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism” says President/CEO Cody A. Gray. “Her experience made her a stand-out candidate for the position and I am confident she will grow into a leader for our organization.”

Brandi is a local of Lafourche Parish and is a proud resident of Bayou Blue. She brings 12 years of finance and office management experience making her a perfect fit for the position. Outside of her professional ambitions, Brandi is also a loving mother and spends her free time camping, cooking up Cajun food, and watching her favorite football team.

“I am looking forward to working with our local businesses and learning more about the hidden gems within Lafourche Parish” says Hebert. “I am excited for the new relationships with my team and welcome all the exciting experiences to come.”

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Announces Return of Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown in 2024

Raceland, Louisiana (August, 22, 2023) – Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, the destination management organization for Lafourche Parish, announced they have once again been selected as the host of the Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown, a premier roller derby tournament composed of teams from across the United States. Following its inaugural success in 2023, the competition will make its return to Warren J. Harang Auditorium in Thibodaux the weekend of February 22-25, 2024.

The event will be hosted as part of a joint effort from Team Louisiana Roller Derby, the state’s collective all-star roller derby team, and Red Stick Roller Derby Juniors, the Baton Rouge-based youth roller derby team. In early 2023, the City of Thibodaux welcomed nearly 500 participating athletes, coaches, and officials, making it one of the largest events to take place in Lafourche Parish.

The economic impact for the City of Thibodaux from the 2023 tournament resulted in 400 room nights at local hotels and Airbnb’s. It is also estimated over 900 meals were consumed at local restaurants, and additional visitor spending was made at local attractions and shops in the community.

“After a successful first year, we are excited to see the return of the Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown to Thibodaux” said President & CEO of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, Cody A. Gray. “Events like these bring in visitors from across the country and provide significant economic activity in our parish. We sincerely appreciate the tournament organizers for choosing Lafourche Parish to host their exciting event for the second year in a row.”

Details about the 2024 tournament including the announcement of the teams competing, the competition format, ticket information and more will be coming soon! For further information about the Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown, visit their website linked below. For vendor/sponsorship opportunities, contact Kaitlyn Estes, Tournament Organizer at [email protected].

https://www.yallstars.com/ 

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism Celebrates Acadian Heritage Day Following Cultural Immersion Trip to Nova Scotia

Raceland, Louisiana (August 15, 2023) – In July 2022, tourism officials representing Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, the Municipality of Clare in Nova Scotia, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores in Nova Scotia, and the Congrès Mondial Acadien 2024 announced a historic partnership with the intent to bring two regions with close ties to the Acadian culture closer together, in a campaign titled “From Acadian to Cajun: Two Countries, One Culture.” In a continued effort to strengthen the partnership and to recognize and embrace Lafourche Parish’s deep Acadian roots, members of the staff of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism returned from a cultural immersion and media trip to Nova Scotia the first week of August 2023. They were accompanied by a travel journalist who had recently visited Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.

The Acadian culture, deeply rooted in both Louisiana and Nova Scotia, is a celebration of resilience, language, music, cuisine and traditions that have been passed down for generations. Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Tourism believes that cultural tourism plays a vital role in preserving the legacy of the Acadian and Cajun people. Engaging visitors in the traditions, language and customs of the culture creates a deeper appreciation and understanding, encouraging future generations to continue passing down these treasured traditions.The tourism office’s goal with this trip was to experience the Acadian lifestyle so its staff can better understand the origins of the Cajun culture and the connections between the two countries, as well as demonstrate the ongoing partnership to an influential travel journalist.

Upon arrival in Nova Scotia, Cody Gray and Ian Wallis of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism met with the Executive Director of the Congrès Mondial Acadien 2024, Vaughne Madden, and members of the Municipality of Clare. At this meeting, the officials exchanged gifts, acknowledging and celebrating their partnership and officially welcoming the Louisianans to Canada.
Throughout their time in the area, Gray and Wallis visited many important Acadian historic sites, including the Grand Pre National Historic Site (the site of the Acadian Deportation), Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Ecosse (the Acadian Village) Le Musee des Acadiens des Pubnico (the Acadian Museum & Archives), and the University of St. Anne. They toured Tusket Island, accompanied by Colton LeBlanc, the Minister of Acadian Affairs, and Sally Kenney, the Family Reunions Coordinator for CMA 2024. To experience Louisiana from the Canadian point of view, the pair was invited by Daniel LeBlanc, the Director of the Festival Acadien de Clare, to attend a “Louisiana Night”-themed event, where they were recognized and introduced to the community.

After the team returned to Louisiana on August 8, Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson III signed a proclamation recognizing August 15 as Acadian Heritage Day in Lafourche Parish. This proclamation acknowledges the work being done to promote the Acadian and Cajun culture in the parish.
To learn more about the Acadian to Cajun partnership and all of the ways visitors can experience Cajun culture on a visit to Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, please visit https://www.lacajunbayou.com/from-acadian-to-cajun. 

Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Celebrates Acadian Heritage Day

In July 2022, tourism officials representing Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, the Municipality of Clare, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores in Nova Scotia, and the Congrès Mondial Acadien 2024 announced a historic partnership with the intent to bring two regions with close ties to the Acadian culture closer together, in a campaign titled “From Acadian to Cajun: Two Countries, One Culture.” In a continued effort to strengthen the partnership and to recognize and embrace our deep Acadian roots, members of our staff returned from a cultural immersion and media trip to Nova Scotia. They were accompanied by a travel journalist who’d recently visited Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou and is focusing on the cultural ties between the two regions by exploring Nova Scotia as the last leg of her journey.

Upon arrival in Nova Scotia, we met with the Executive Director of the Congrès Mondial Acadien (CMA) 2024 and members of the Municipality of Clare. We exchanged gifts, acknowledging and celebrating our partnership and officially welcoming us to Canada.

Throughout our time in the area, we visited many important Acadian historic sites, including the Grand-Pré National Historic Site (the site of the Acadian Deportation), Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse (the Acadian Village), Musée des Acadiens des Pubnicos (the Acadian Museum & Archives), and the University of St. Anne. We toured Tusket Island, accompanied by Colton LeBlanc, the Minister of Acadian Affairs, and Sally Kenney, the Family Reunions Coordinator for CMA 2024. To experience Louisiana from the Canadian point of view, we were was invited by Daniel LeBlanc, the Director of the Festival Acadien de Clare, to attend a “Louisiana Night”-themed event, where we were recognized and introduced to the community.

After returning to Louisiana on August 8, Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson III signed a proclamation recognizing August 15 as Acadian Heritage Day here in Lafourche Parish. This proclamation acknowledges the work being done to promote Acadian and Cajun culture in the parish.

To learn more about the Acadian to Cajun partnership and all of the ways you can experience Cajun culture on a visit to Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, head over to https://www.lacajunbayou.com/from-acadian-to-cajun.

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism Announces Takeover of Lafourche Pavilion Operations

Unpack Our Summer Beach Bag in Louisiana's Cajun Bayou

Like many of you, the team at Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism has been on the road quite a bit this summer! Because we love to travel – both for work and personally – we’ve been busy packing, unpacking and repacking all summer long … so something we’re really looking forward to is a staycation on the bayou. We thought it would be helpful to round up a list of all the items that are in our “bayou beach bag” for those headed to Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou this summer. (Photo credit: Vesna Dies).

Food Trail Passport: We listed this first because it’s probably the most important thing in our bag this summer. We live, eat and breathe Cajun culture here and any stop along the Cajun Bayou Food Trail promises a dish full of fresh ingredients, culture and love. As an added bonus, you get a super comfy t-shirt after trying five stops along the trail!
Iced Coffee from Willow Café: Technically this is in our hand and not our bag, but it is absolutely a necessity on a hot summer day. If you’re not a coffee person but still like to start your day with a cool beverage, the cafe also offers coffee-free frappes that are just as refreshing.

Fishing Pole & Cast Net: Whether you plan to head out on the water on a Fishing Charter or want to try your luck at the Lockport Bayouside Park, a fishing pole is a must if you want to bring in the bass, red drum or bluegill that the area is known for. (Photo Credit: Vesna Dies).
Kayak Paddle: There are plenty of places in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou to Kayak, Paddleboard, Canoe and enjoy being out on the water. Geux Paddle is a new kayak and paddleboard outfitter that can be found in Raceland and Thibodaux. So grab your paddle and geux out on the water to experience the sights and sounds of Bayou Lafourche. 

Binoculars: Another way to explore the bayou is to take a Swamp Tour. If you’re lucky you won’t need binoculars to see birds, gators and all the other bayou wildlife, but it never hurts to have them on hand! (Photo credit: Vesna Dies)
Dancing Shoes: Yes, you read that right! Music on the Bayou is a free event held every Tuesday at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center. Local musicians play every genre from jazz to zydeco to swamp pop.

Sunglasses and Sunscreen: Summer in Louisiana is HOT. Wherever your Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou vacation takes you, make sure to be safe in the sun!

Are we forgetting anything? Let us know and tag us on social media using the hashtag #cajunbayou to show us what’s in your bayou bag!

Newly Refreshed Cajun Bayou Food Trail Launches with Three New Restaurants

Raceland, Louisiana (May 15, 2023) – It’s no secret that some of the best food in the South can be found in Louisiana. Gumbo, jambalaya, etouffee, boudin … if it’ hard to spell and tasty to eat, odds are no one makes it better than someone’s grandma down in Cajun Country. Here in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, chefs have access to their own personal pantry with the bayou being steps away. Fresh ingredients, recipes passed down through generations and the not-so-secret ingredient of “a whole lotta love” come together to create dishes that put this region on the map.

And speaking of maps, in 2018, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou dished out their very own Cajun Bayou Food Trail. For the past five years, the trail has celebrated the authentic food found within the area’s Cajun roots, offering a way for visitors to truly experience Cajun cuisine like never before.

Today, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism is excited to unveil a refreshed trail with new additions and enhancements. Since no one can ever have too many boudin balls, three stops are being added to the preexisting – and authentically delicious – trail, bringing the total participating restaurants to 18. These additions provide more dining options for trail-goers in North, Central and South Lafourche -- Grady V’s in Thibodaux (Blue Crab Beignets, anyone?), Bayou Boucherie Meat Market in Mathews, and Mommie Jo’s Restaurant in Cut Off.

Visitors need only a trail map, passport and quite the appetite to begin their journey, though stretchy pants are also recommended! After getting five stamps on your Food Trail passport, which can be found both online and at the Visitor’s Center, guests are eligible for a free Food Trail t-shirt, a comfy badge of honor that, after sampling all the parish has to offer, should be ordered in a size up.

In addition to updated promotional and marketing items like a refreshed landing page and new Food Trail stamps for restaurants, the beloved trail t-shirt is also getting a makeover … meaning those who have traveled the trail and earned the t-shirt in the past have no excuse not to head to Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou for round two!

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Honors Tourism Partners at 2023 Bayou Ambassador Awards Luncheon

Raceland, Louisiana (May 11, 2023) – Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism, the destination management organization for Lafourche Parish, honored five tourism partners with their Bayou Ambassador Awards in recognition of their dedicated service to the tourism industry in Lafourche Parish.

The Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux was selected as Attraction of the Year, Grady V’s Restaurant in Thibodaux was selected as Restaurant of the Year, the 2022 French Food Festival in Cut Off was selected as Event of the Year, and Ms. Tiffany Dardar, Sales Manager at the Candlewood Suites in Cut Off was selected as the Hospitality Employee of the Year. The recipients were honored for their exceptional service and commitment to making Lafourche Parish a year-round tourism destination in 2022.

A special award, The Spirit of the Bayou Award, was given to the Cajun Music Preservation Society. This award was created to honor a tourism partner who embraces the true authentic brand of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou as someone who whole-heartedly encompasses the spirit of the bayou. Members of the Cajun Music Preservation Society including Quenton Fontenot, Misty McElroy, Gary LaFleur, and Tysman Charpentier accepted the award.

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism (LCBT) Board Chair, Marguerite Knight-Erwin, delivered a special welcome to guests that included the importance of the visitor economy in Lafourche Parish. Additionally, the President & CEO of LCBT, Cody A. Gray, provided an update on projects he and his organization are working on, including a parish-wide signage project, a new visitor’s center, and the announcement of a revamped Cajun Bayou Food Trail.

“Our Bayou Ambassador Awards and luncheon as a whole is our way of showing thanks and giving back to our tourism partners who show an unwavering support to our overall goal in making Lafourche Parish a premier tourism destination” said Cody A. Gray, President & CEO of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou. “As we continue to recover from Hurricane Ida and the effects of Covid-19, we appreciate their support and we look forward to working with and supporting them in the future. Congratulations to all of our award winners on their much-deserved recognition.”

The 2023 Bayou Ambassador Awards Luncheon coincides with National Travel & Tourism Week, an annual celebration of the United States tourism industry.