Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival: Cameron celebration begins Friday

Published 11:05 am Monday, January 5, 2026

The Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival will take place Jan. 9-10 in Cameron.

The fairgrounds at 122 Recreation Center Drive is home to the festival.

The idea for the festival originated in 1955 by the late Congressman Theo Ashton Thompson who represented the area.

Initially the festival was going to be called The Fur Festival, but with duck hunting and fishing so important to the area and a way of life in Cameron Parish, it was decided the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival would be more appropriate. The first festival took place in December 1955. The festival is now scheduled the second weekend of January each year.

The fun begins the next weekend when the gates open for the carnival, crafts, vendors and food booths at noon on Jan. 9.

Admission to the festival on Friday is $5 or $15 for the weekend pass. Children 12 and younger get in free. Entertainment includes the Johnson Brothers beginning at 6 p.m. Friday and Conner Haynie beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The gates will open at 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 10 for the Gumbo Cook Off participants. At 7 a.m., visitors may register for the Fur Festival 5k Run and One Mile Fun Walk, which begins at 8 a.m.

The gates will open at 9 a.m. for the carnival, crafts, vendors and food booths. Admission on Saturday is $10 per person and free for children 12 and younger. Don’t miss the antique vehicle showcase from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The festival is filled with wildlife competitions like the oyster shucking contest, duck and goose calling competition and the trap shooting competition. Visit www.lafurandwildlifefestival.net for more information.

The gumbo cook-off judging will take place at 11 a.m. and at 1 p.m. the road will be shut down for the parade lineup. The parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. in downtown Cameron.

Entertainment will take place following the Gumbo Cook-Off Awards at 2:30 p.m. Water’s Edge will be stage at 3 p.m. and at 5 p.m. the presentation of festival royalty, Maryland delegation and festival officials. At 5:30 p.m. Rusty Metoyer will take the stage followed by Steel Shot at 8 p.m. Gates will close at 10:30 p.m.