Things to Do in Houma in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
February Weather in Houma
Long-run averages for February
69°F (20°C)
High Temp
53°F (12°C)
Low Temp
4.7 inches (119 mm)
Rainfall
79%
Humidity
6
Sunny-Day UV
Is February Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Mardi Gras season hits its stride, spilling out of New Orleans into Houma's own community-driven parades and courir balls. The scent of fried chicken, jambalaya, and King Cake sugar hangs heavy in the damp air. Locals run these shows, not tourists.
- + February tends to be the last dry-ish month before the spring rains. Bayou water levels are still manageable for swamp tours. You will hear the splash of an alligator sliding off a log. You will feel the sun-warmed cypress wood of the pirogue.
- + Crawfish season is just starting to flicker to life. Menus begin to feature the local's early-season harvest. The crawfish are smaller. But arguably sweeter. They are boiled with cayenne and garlic you can taste on the steam.
- + Hotel occupancy is generally soft outside of parade weekends. This might net you a better room for your budget. You will also find more breathing room at the better-known seafood houses. Book midweek.
Considerations
- − That rainfall figure is real. Expect intermittent, gray, drizzly days that can gum up outdoor plans. A swamp tour becomes a very damp, very cold affair if you are not prepared. Pack accordingly.
- − Mardi Gras, for all its fun, soaks up local attention like a sponge. Restaurants might run special menus or close early for private krewe functions. Navigating traffic near parade routes becomes a genuine test of patience. Leave early.
- − It is the tail end of winter. The bayou landscape can feel a bit skeletal. The cypress are still bare. The marsh grasses are brown. They lack the lush green punch that arrives in late March. Wait for spring.
Best Activities in February
Top things to do during your visit
Swamp & Bayou Tours
This is the sweet spot for it. The air is cool enough that the mosquitoes are mostly dormant. The water has not yet climbed with the spring rains to obscure the banks. You will glide through silent, fog-laced channels draped with Spanish moss. The only sounds are the dip of the guide's pole and the distant cry of a red-shouldered hawk. The alligators are slower, basking on logs, making them easier to spot. It is hauntingly beautiful. Summer tours cannot quite capture this.
Booking Tip: Look for small, locally-owned operations that use flat-bottomed pirogues or small pontoon boats. They can access tighter waterways. Book at least a few days ahead, for weekend slots. Morning tours tend to have better wildlife activity. Check the booking widget below for current guided tour options.
Mardi Gras Parade & Courir Viewing
Forget the French Quarter. Houma's Mardi Gras is a family-and-community affair. The floats are homemade, thrown together with more heart than glitter. The real magic, though, is the Cajun Courir or 'country Mardi Gras' traditions you might find in nearby communities like Choupic or Montegut. Men on horseback in lively, hand-sewn suits beg for ingredients for a communal gumbo. It is a riot of bells, music, and controlled chaos that feels centuries old.
Booking Tip: No booking needed for the parades. Just show up early with a chair. For a courir, access is trickier as they are often on private land. Your best bet is to connect through a cultural tour operator who has relationships with the communities. Check event calendars for specific parade dates, which are usually the weekends leading up to Fat Tuesday.
Historic Downtown & Waterfront Strolls
A February afternoon, when the sun breaks through and pushes the temperature toward that 69°F (20°C) high, is good for wandering. Start at the Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum to feel the textured, worn shrimp nets and understand the city's backbone. Then walk the brick sidewalks along Main Street. You will pass the old brick storefronts, some still housing family businesses, and catch the smell of strong Community Coffee brewing. The light this time of year is soft and low, casting long shadows that make the historic architecture pop.
Booking Tip: This is a self-guided activity. The museum keeps seasonal hours, so it is worth a quick check ahead. Wear layers. You will want to shed a jacket if the sun comes out. But the shade near the bayou can hold a chill. Combine it with lunch at one of the longtime spots nearby.
Cajun Dancehall & Music Evenings
The damp, cool nights practically beg for a warm, noisy refuge. Places that have hosted two-stepping couples for decades come alive with the scratchy-sweet sound of a Cajun fiddle and the metallic tap-tap of a triangle. The heat from the crowd, the smell of stale beer and wood polish, the feel of a worn pine floor underfoot, it is a cultural immersion you wear on your skin. In February, these halls are not yet packed with summer tourists. You might get a lesson from a local without shouting.
Booking Tip: Most dancehalls have a modest cover charge on live music nights, usually Friday and Saturday. Go after 8 PM for the real energy. No fancy footwork required. Just watch, listen, and maybe join in a two-step. See local listings for who is playing.
Where to Stay in Houma in February
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for February travellers.
Public Holidays in February
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Washington's Birthday
Known in English as Presidents Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Washington's Birthday
Known in English as Presidents Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Houma Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best gumbo in February isn't always in restaurants. Check community centers, fire stations, or church halls for 'gumbo cook-offs' and fundraisers. Old-guard Cajun cooks compete there. They fight for bragging rights with their roux.
If rain cancels your swamp tour, ask about rescheduling for the next morning. Post-rain fog on the bayou is more atmospheric. Wildlife gets more active then. Don't despair.
Drive bayou roads toward Dulac or Cocodrie late afternoon. Winter sun sets early. It paints the wide, flat marshes in gold and purple. Other seasons can't match this. Photographers know this hour.
Avoid chain hotels on the highway. Book a historic bed & breakfast downtown instead. Walk to parades from your door. Owners give the best current local advice.
Avoid These Mistakes
Never underestimate the cold on the water. That damp 53°F (12°C) feels like 40°F (4°C) with wind chill on a moving boat. Tourists arrive in summer clothes. They shiver miserably.
Don't overpack your parade day. Traffic gridlocks. Parking is a nightmare. Restaurants get swamped. Pick one parade. Claim your spot early. Make a day of it right there.
Don't skip the crawfish boil, even early season. The flavor concentrates more now. Find a seafood market that boils on-site weekends. Communal peeling and eating is half the experience.
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