Bayou Vermilion District’s
2025 Bayou Fest and Boat Parade!
Saturday, Sept. 27
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Let the good times flow during the Bayou Vermilion Boat Parade! This annual celebration of the Bayou Vermilion begins at Vermilionville and continues downriver for about ten miles to Southside Park!
The Bayou Vermilion District hosts this party every year to increase awareness of the river as a great source of recreation and exploration for Lafayette Parish citizens and visitors from around the world. In addition, we celebrate the year-long efforts of the Bayou Vermilion District to conserve and preserve sites along the river, trash/debris clean up, and water quality management.
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Paraders (paradeers?) can join in with their own kayak, canoe, pirogue, bass boat, barge, paddle board, dragon-boat, inflatable unicorn, or any other (decorated!) watercraft that their heart desires. And if you’d like to put in, but don’t have a boat of your own, don’t worry! The BVD has a number of canoes and kayaks that you can rent to get out and on the water.
This year’s parade “sets sail” at 11:30 a.m. from Vermilionville with a celebratory toast by our Grand Marshal. More details coming soon! The celebration will meander 10.6 miles down the bayou to BVD’s Southside Park on Robley Dr. If you’d like a shorter trip, you can start at Vermilionville and end at the Camellia Bridge — you can park there and ride the 10:30 shuttle to Vermilionville,or start at the Camellia Bridge (parade estimated to arrive there about 1:30 p.m. — and of course, we’d love to see you at the Bayou Fest at Southside Park!
The Bayou Vermilion Mini-Fest at Southside Park begins around 3 PM, with music PLUS games, food by La Cuisine de Maman, beverages, and beer from the Vermilonville BrewHouse!
Shuttle provided by Luxury Limo — drop off your vessel and gear at Vermilionville, park at Southside, and ride the shuttle back to Vermilionville for the start of the parade, or park at Camellia, and catch the shuttle back. Shuttle times: leaving Southside at 9 AM, 9:30 AM, and 10:15 AM. Shuttle leaves Camellia at 10:30 AM
Online Registration is CLOSED. Fear not, walk-up registration available at the Vermilionville Boat Launch until start of the Parade. VESSEL RENTALS NOT AVAILABLE FOR WALK-UP REGISTRATION.
Contests!
What would the Bayoufest & Boat Parade even be without some contests?
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Costumes, costumes, costumes! This one is about costumes! Dress your best, or your absolute worst, for a chance to win this highly coveted award! This could be you or your whole crew!
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Make your boat your float! In our parade, the boat is it. Bring the party to your pirogue, and maybe your bateaux is the best-dressed this year!
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House Par-tay! The Boat Parade is a great day for a yard party, and the BVD is ready to reward you for your efforts! Decorate as you like, make sure that your address is visible from the bayou, and as our team of highly-trained outside decoration experts travel down the bayou, we’ll have our eyes on your space!
2025 Timeline!
BOAT PARADE TIMELINE
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.| Drop off your paddle craft or claim your rented vessel at Vermilionville’s boat corral (300 Fisher Road, Lafayette, LA 70508) then park your car at Southside Park on 2201 Robley Drive, or at Camellia boat launch for a shorter paddle. Shuttle provided by Luxury Limo will depart Southside at 9 AM, 9:30 AM and 10:15. Shuttle will depart Camellia at 10:30 AM.
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | We’ll begin loading your crafts into the water
11:30 a.m. | Parade departs Vermilionville, will arrive at Camellia Bridge about 1:30 p.m. for those joining us there!
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Bayou Vermilion Festival at Southside Park| Music, food by La Cuisine de Maman, beverages, beers from the Vermilionville BrewHouse, games, and more!