First Rougarou Fest set for Houma

A new Halloween festival set for downtown Houma will feature a mix of modern pop culture and monster myths from Cajun lore.

The first Rougarou Fest — named for a beast in Cajun folklore — is scheduled Oct. 26. It links several existing downtown events with Halloween festivities, including a parade, costume contest and a monster-themed race.

In the "Rougarou Run," participants will be outfitted with a flag football belt. Then they will have to protect their flags from zombies, swamp monsters and members of the Cajun Rollergirls roller derby team.

The Courier reports the event will raise money for the Wetland Discovery Center, which helps teach children about the importance of the wetlands and saving Louisiana's coast.