When you live in a state that has hundreds of festivals every year, picking out which ones you should attend can be tricky. Every fall, the Rougarou Fest takes over Houma for a full weekend of festive fun, all celebrating that iconic Louisiana swamp monster, the Rougarou. It's easily one of the best fall festivals in Louisiana, and you won't want to miss it.

First thing's first: the Rougarou Festival takes place toward the end of October every year.

It takes place in downtown Houma, near the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center and the South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center.

The Rougarou Fest has been known to be one of the best costume festivals in the country, so start thinking about your costume.

The rougarou, pictured here, is a legendary werewolf-like creature. The costumes you'll see are very impressive.

The parade is one of the most popular events at the festival.

Krewe Ga Rou rolls by to celebrate the season! The route begins at the Civic Center and then makes a one-mile loop before coming back to the center. Each year families, friends, businesses, and organizations come together with decorated floats, cars, and even giant puppets to celebrate this spooky fest.

There will be an arts and crafts section full of goodies.

There will be face painting, animal exhibits, games, storytelling, and so much more. From handmade soaps to jams and jellies, vendors from all over come out to display their selections.

In addition to artistic things to do, there will be plenty of other fun kid-friendly activities to enjoy at this Louisiana fall festival.

"The Minnow Trap" is a designated section of the festival that's full of exciting activities for the youngest of festival attendants.

And of course, you can count on some good food.

The menu looks delicious! Fried oysters, alligator tacos, beignets... yum!

One special tradition that's held every year is the pardoning of the nutria.

Nutria are an invasive species that cause more harm than good to our wetlands, and there's a bounty on their tails to help control the population. Every year, one very special nutria by the name of Beignet, is pardoned by the Terrebonne Parish President, keeping him safe from hunters. (Don’t worry, he lives at the Discovery Center, so he wouldn’t have to worry about hunters anyway.)

Between the music, the food, and the costumes, this is one festival that you won't want to miss!

Check out the Rougarou Fest musical lineup to see what time your favorite band goes on.

Have you gotten to enjoy the Rougarou Fest? When it comes to unique festivals in Louisiana, this one is a great choice! If you've been, please let us know about your experiences in the comments section. We would love to hear about your favorite parts of the festival (even though we know it's probably hard to choose just one or two!).

For more information, visit the Rougarou Fest website so you don't miss out on any announcements. While you're in Houma, don't forget to stop by A-Bear's, home to some of the most delicious homemade desserts in Louisiana.

If you're hoping to fully explore the town and spend time getting to know the local shops and restaurants, take a look at Hotels.com for the best deals on great places to stay. Whether you're looking for a low-key motel or high-end hotel, there is something for everyone on the site.