The 30th annual crawfish festival kicks off the weekend of April 29 in Old Town Spring, with more than 50,000 pounds of crawfish on hand for crawfish lovers.
The festival includes live music by popular artists, such as Reckless Kelly and Asleep at the Wheel. Also included is a Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show—featuring stars from Amazon’s Family Chop series—and a Gator Country attraction that includes a close-up view of an alligator as well as opportunities to hold and feed baby gators and learn more about crocodiles and other reptiles. Also featured is a Kid Zone Petting Zoo that will provide opportunities to pet farm animals and ride ponies.
Rides will be available at the 30th Annual Crawfish Festival.[/caption]
Visitors will also enjoy carnival rides, shopping, museums and art galleries, and food from vendors that includes everything from crawfish and Cajun food to burgers and vegetarian items.
Business owners will stay open after hours. Warthog Firearms co-owner Brian Fowler, who opened his business just a week before last year’s festival, said the event brought about 1,500 people through his doors, which helped jump-start his business.
More than 50,000 pounds of crawfish will be available for festival-goers.[/caption]
“The festival certainly got the word out that we’re here, and we’ve had loyal, repeat customers since then,” Fowler said.
New owners of Ellen’s Cafe—The Culinary Institute of America graduates Jessica and Matthew Lynn—said they are looking forward to the festival. The cafe will not only be open after hours but will host a booth, featuring crawfish etouffee and chicken and sausage gumbo.
“Food at the booth will be authentic Cajun etouffee and gumbo, because my husband lived in Louisiana for a decade,” Jessica said.
Additional information may be found on the festival website at www.texascrawfishfestival.com.
Band Lineup
Bud Light Stage
April 29 Thunder Soul, Jimmie Hunter Band and Bayou Roux
April 30 Reckless Kelly
May 1 Angel y Khriz
May 6 CMA of Texas Night with Kevin Black, Tony Ramey, Code Joe Hodges and Jesse Roach
May 7 Asleep at the Wheel with Paula Nelson
May 8 Spacebear, Vanilla Whale and Radio Springs
Zydeco Stage
April 29 Zydeco Splash, 6-8 p.m. The Zydeco Dots, 8:30-11 p.m.
April 30 Weasel and the Zydeco Clan, 1-4:30 p.m. LT and the Zydeco Mob, 5-8:30 p.m. Bourbon Street, 9-11 p.m.
May 1 The Zydeco Project, noon-3 p.m. Raa-Raa the Zydeco Allstars, 3:30-6 p.m.
