If you’re staying at The Venice Inn and want a break from the dock-and-deep-freezer routine, Best of the Bayou is one of the easiest ways to sample South Louisiana culture in one shot. This festival takes over historic Downtown Houma for a weekend of live music, Cajun food, local art, and that laid-back bayou energy you came down here for in the first place. It’s not in Venice — it’s up in Terrebonne Parish — but it’s a very doable day trip (or overnight add-on) if you want your Louisiana trip to be more than fishing.
What Best of the Bayou actually is
Best of the Bayou was built to showcase what the Houma-Terrebonne bayou region does best: music, food, crafts, and local identity. The event stretches through downtown with multiple stages and vendor blocks, so you can wander, eat, listen, and settle in wherever the vibe is best.
Expect a real Louisiana mix:
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Two days of live music with Louisiana talent and rotating headliners across more than one stage.
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Festival food that leans bayou — boudin, seafood plates, fried everything, and the kind of stuff you only find at parish festivals.
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Arts, crafts, and local makers selling everything from handmade décor to regional goods.
It’s the kind of weekend where you can show up with no plan, follow the music, and eat your way across downtown.
When it happens
Best of the Bayou is typically held in late September in Downtown Houma as a two-day fall festival.
(Each year’s exact dates and lineup change, so it’s worth checking the current schedule before you head up.)
Why Venice Inn guests like it
Most people come to Venice to fish. But if you’re down for multiple days, you eventually want something that isn’t a boat deck or a cleaning table. Best of the Bayou is a perfect reset.
1) It’s a simple culture day-trip
You don’t need a big itinerary. Drive up, walk downtown, eat something unhealthy, listen to a band you’ve never heard of, and head back south when you’re ready.
2) It pairs well with a fishing weekend
A lot of Venice crews run hard on the water early, then want a fun “off day” to keep the trip feeling like a vacation. This festival gives you that without leaving Louisiana.
3) It’s bayou culture without tourist overload
You’re not shoulder-to-shoulder like the Quarter. Best of the Bayou is more local, more spacious, and more relaxed — the kind of festival where families, anglers, and locals all blend together.
How to build it into your Venice stay
If you’re here during festival weekend, you’ve got two easy plays:
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Day trip: fish a morning half-day (or take a rest day), head up to Houma mid-afternoon, catch evening music and dinner, drive back to The Venice Inn.
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Overnight detour: make it a one-night add-on if your crew wants a full festival day and a slower pace.
Either way, The Venice Inn stays your home base for the trip — close to your marinas, gear, and the reason you came down in the first place.
The takeaway
Best of the Bayou is one of the most fun fall weekends in South Louisiana. If you’re staying at The Venice Inn in Venice, LA during late September, it’s a great way to add music, food, and bayou culture to a fishing-first trip — without turning your plans upside down.
