Bayou Vermilion District’s
2022 Bayou-Fest and Boat Parade!
Saturday, Sept. 24
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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!
Attendees can rent a canoe or kayak, or bring their own paddle craft or motorized boat to join in the parade. We get together on the Bayou every year to increase awareness of the river as a viable source of recreation for Lafayette Parish citizens. In addition, we celebrate the efforts of Bayou Vermilion District to conserve and preserve sites along the river, trash/debris clean up, and water quality management.
This year’s parade “sets sail” at 11:30 a.m. from Vermilionville with a celebratory toast by this year’s Grand Marshal! The parade proceeds 10.6 miles down river to BVD’s Southside Park. If you prefer a shorter journey, you can join the parade beginning at Camellia Boulevard canoe and kayak launch and end at Southside Park, which is 5.0 miles.
If you’d like to take part in one of the best days on the Bayou, there are a number of ways to register and join in on the fun!
BYOB (Bring Your Own Boat!)
If you’re going to put your own boat, barge, or bateau in the bayou, you can pre-register here for $10 per person!
BYOP (Bring Your Own Paddles!)
If you’d like to bring your own paddle-craft for the day, be it board, canoe, kayak, raft, big log, whatever, you can register yourself (and your team) for $10 per person, right here!
RKCFBVD! (Rent a Kayak or Canoe From the Bayou Vermilion District)
We’ve got three different crafts types that we’re making available for your journey down the bayou! These are limited, so don’t wait to reserve!*
If you’d like to register and reserve a BVD Canoe for $45 plus $10 per participant, you can reserve your spot here.
If you’d like to register and reserve a Tandem Kayak for $45 plus $10 per participant, you can reserve your spot here.
If you’d rather go solo, you can register and reserve a Solo Kayak for $35 plus $10 per participant (which is 1, because it’s a solo,) and you can reserve your spot here!
*All renters of BVD Vessels will be expected to sign a waiver during on-site 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!
2022 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. As we are not allowed to provide shuttles, we suggest using the buddy system: leave one vehicle at Southside Park, drive one to the start at Vermilionville.
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. | Begin loading your craft into the water
11:30 a.m. | Parade departs Vermilionville led by Grand Marshal!
11:45 a.m. – 1:20 p.m. | Drop-off vessels at Camellia Canoe & Kayak Launch for half parade option
2:15 p.m. | Parade departs Camellia Canoe & Kayak Launch led by Grand Marshal for Southside Park
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Bayou Vermilion Mini-Festival at Southside Park| Food by La Cuisine de Maman, beverages, beers, games, and more!
4:00-6:00 Music in the park!
6:00 BayouFest ends for 2022, see ya on the water soon!
