The Bayou Vermilion Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. at Vermilionville. Activities include free yoga, free face painting for adults and children, a bubbles station, live music and much more! New this year, we are incorporating the Catfish Rodeo Cook-Off, which begins as early as 7:00 a.m. for those fishing enthusiasts (see below).
BAYOU VERMILION BOAT PARADE
If you’re an early bird and would like extra time on the water, please sign-up for the pre-parade paddle starting at 8:00 a.m. at the Acadiana Park Nature Station arriving at Vermilionville around 12:00 p.m. for the festival. To pre-register for the pre-paddle and the boat parade, please visit https://goo.gl/FEujX4.
Or, you can begin your paddle at Vermilionville after the festival around 2 p.m. with a celebratory toast by this year’s Grand Marshal. The parade ends at the Camellia Bridge Canoe and Kayak Launch near the Camellia Blvd. Bridge with a celebration complete with live music by Patrick Henry and the Liberation Band plus food and drinks.
Online registration is open for the 7th Annual Boat Parade and closes on May 19th at https://goo.gl/FEujX4. If you don’t have a chance to register, no worries. You can also register at Vermilionville the day of the event.
MAKE YOUR BOAT A FLOAT
We would like to encourage parade participants to decorate your boat and wear a costume! Plus, residents and businesses along the parade route are also encouraged to participate by decorating your yard, inviting friends and family over to watch the parade. There will be a ‘Spirit of The Bayou’ Contest for best boat & costume and best yard decorations. Those that do not live along the parade route can watch the parade at Vermilionville, Beaver Park, Rotary Point or at the Camellia Bridge Canoe and Kayak Launch.
***If you are renting a craft from our facility, please claim your paddle craft at Vermilionville before 12:00 p.m. the day of the boat parade. Any unclaimed paddle crafts will be given away to people on a waiting list starting at 12:00 p.m.***
Be sure to visit https://goo.gl/pHZDUx for additional information.
7TH ANNUAL BAYOU VERMILION FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
CATFISH RODEO & COOK-OFF
7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. | Catfish Rodeo Registration at Vermilionville, Beaver Park & Rotary Point
7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Catfish Rodeo commences and ends at Vermilionville; pre-registrants can begin at 7:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Catfish Cook-off at Vermilionville – Pre-registrants can begin set-up only at 9:00 a.m. If you did not pre-register online, please arrive at 8:30 a.m. to complete registration.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Rodeo weigh-in at Bayou Vermilion District dock
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Catfish Cook-off Tasting & Judging
12:45 p.m. | Catfish Rodeo & Cook-Off Awards and Kayak Raffle held on the dock of Vermilionville
**Interested in participating? Visit https://goo.gl/pHZDUx.
PRE-PADDLE & BOAT PARADE EVENTS
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. | Drop off your paddle craft at Acadiana Park Nature Station (1205 E. Alexander Str., Lafayette, LA 70501) boat corral, then park your car on Bellaire Rd. at the Camellia Bridge Canoe and Kayak Launch near the Camellia Blvd. Bridge. A shuttle will bring you back to the parades starting point at the Nature Station.
*PLEASE NOTE: This pre-paddle is only for participants who pre-register. Limited paddle crafts available to rent when pre-registering.
To pre-register, please visit https://goo.gl/FEujX4.
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Pre-parade paddle launches from Acadiana Park Nature Station, led by Jesse Guidry.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Drop-off your paddle craft or claim your rented craft at Vermilionville’s boat corral, then park your car on Bellaire Rd. at the Camellia Bridge Canoe and Kayak Launch near the Camellia Blvd. Bridge. A shuttle will bring you back to the parade’s starting point at Vermilionville.
10:00 a.m. | Meet & greet with the Bayou Operations Team, kids’ crafts and activities including a bubble station, “Bayou Bones” Art Exhibit plus more
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Free yoga class along the Retention Pond
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Free face painting for adults and kids
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Live music by the New Native Brass Band
12:30 p.m. | Line up to load your paddle craft for the parade into the water at the canoe launch
2:00 p.m. | Parade launches from Vermilionville, led by the Grand Marshal and the New Natives Brass
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Music by Patrick Henry and the Liberation Band, food by La Cuisine de Maman, beverages (including our special Floatilla Ale by Bayou Teche Brewing), vending, games by Olympic Grove, prizes announced for “Spirit of the Bayou” contest and more at Camellia Bridge Canoe and Kayak Launch near the Camellia Blvd. Bridge.
For detailed information on concerning the 7th Annual Bayou Vermilion Festival & Boat Parade, visit https://goo.gl/pHZDUx.
See you on Sunday, May 20th for a great time on the Vermilion!
