Crawfish Festival

Breaux Bridge’s annual crawfish festival celebrates two things: crawfish and Louisiana music. Breaux Bridge was designated crawfish capital of the world in 1959—by the Louisiana state legislature, who would know—and has held the festival since 1960. Crawfish is served in nearly every way imaginable: boiled, fried, in étouffée, in boudin, in pie… if there’s a way you like to eat it, you’re sure to find it here. The competitive can enter the crawfish-eating competition; those more comfortable as spectators can take in the celebrity crawfish-eating contest, Cajun cooking demonstrations, and a crawfish race. There’s also a carnival midway full of games and activities, along with a parade featuring this year’s Crawfish Queen.

Music fans—and in Louisiana, who isn’t one?—will be thrilled by the steady supply of Cajun music, zydeco, and swamp pop provided by bands from the three stages present at the festival. One highlight of the musical offerings this year will be performances by students of the Brazos Huval School of Music, which teaches local young people how to play the area’s distinctive and beloved music. Students come in with interests in all genres (you know, whatever they’re listening to these days), and as they learn the basics of the instruments, “Cajun and zydeco music grows on them, and they dig it,” said Huval. The school has performed on Sunday at the festival for several years, but this year they will also give a kickoff performance on Thursday. Come celebrate and dance to the new generation of Louisiana musicians.

This year’s Crawfish Festival will be held May 5–7, 2017. Entry forms for the various contests, along with full information and event details, are available at bbcrawfest.com.