In Louisiana and the south, boiling and eating crawfish is a long standing family tradition. But we eat crawfish at places besides the home, whether it be in restaurants, family reunions, football games, or at company gatherings.
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And we celebrate the crawfish in another way: Festivals! These events encompass all the good things about life along the Gulf Coast: food, fun, music and merriment!
More than 400 festivals take place every year in Louisiana alone, the reason why the State is often called the Festival Capital of America.
We celebrate just about every crop harvested, every indigenous dish, every type of music that's played here – ranging from Cajun and Zydeco to Delta blues, New Orleans jazz, Louisiana's own swamp pop, country, salsa and more.
Excellent Louisiana food is a given at any festival. And as always, Louisiana festivals offer abundant opportunities for meeting old friends, and making new ones.
The list of festivals would not be complete without crawfish festivals, held all over Louisiana, from New Orleans to Shreveport, from Lake Charles to Breaux Bridge.
Many exciting crawfish festivals in Texas are held annually, from Pearland to to Austin, from Fredericksburg to Kemah, and all over the Lone Star State.
And these days crawfish festivals are happening all across the USA, in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida ... and even New Jersey and California!
IMPORTANT NOTE Listed below are festivals and events normally scheduled most years. Emphasis is given to long-standing events and those with widespread appeal and popularity. Events are always subject to change. We recommended you contact the responsible event sponsor to confirm dates, times and other details. |
Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
 Dancing the day away ... at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival |
In the heart of Cajun Country, just east of Lafayette on I-10, is the community of Breaux Bridge, the Crawfish Capital of the World, close to Henderson, the gateway to the great Atchafalaya Swamp.
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Breaux Bridge is known as the "Crawfish Capital of the World", and is home of the annual Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival.
Visitors to the festival always enjoy tasting crawfish prepared in every imaginable way—fried, boiled, in an étouffée, bisque, boudin, pie or jambalaya, and crawdogs, along with other Cajun favorites (shrimp, crab, gumbo, red beans and rice, just to name a few).
Don't miss the crawfish races ... As the Crawfish Race Commissioner yells “ils sont partis”, the world famous race of the crawfish begins! Numbered crawfish race to the finish line with skillful aid from their registered owners on an eight-foot circular target. This race is open to all and a joy to watch.
There is also Cajun & Zydeco Dance Contests, the Breaux Heritage Tent, Crawfish Etouffée Cook-Off, the carnival midway, lots of music, and many more fun events.
The next Crawfish Festival is scheduled for May 3-5, 2024. More information at Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival website
The Louisiana Crawfish Festival in Chalmette
The Louisiana Crawfish Festival is held at the Sigur Cultural Center, 8245 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, Louisiana.
Chalmette is located in the Greater New Orleans area, on the east bank of the Mississippi River, downstream from downtown New Orleans.
The festival originated in 1975 and has grown to become a Louisiana tradition. Patrons frequent the festival, annually, from all areas of the United States.
You can dine on your choice of food, whether it be boiled crawfish, Crawfish Bread, Crawfish Pasta, Crawfish Pies, Crawfish Rice, Crawfish Etouffee, or Crawfish Jambalaya.
Cajun bands provide the music, and arts and crafts booths showcase local talent. There’s always a giant midway with carnival games, cotton candy, candied apples and fun rides.
The next festival is scheduled for March 21-24, 2024. More information at Louisiana Crawfish Festival website
Mudbug Madness in Shreveport
 Mudbug Madness ... downtown Shreveport, Louisiana |
Mudbug Madness is a festival celebrating Louisiana crawfish & cuisine, along with great entertainment on three stages for all ages. It is held held at Festival Plaza in Downtown Shreveport.
What began in 1984 as a two-day street festival in downtown Shreveport is now one of Louisiana’s largest and most popular Cajun festivals, featuring renown Cajun, Zydeco, Blues and Jazz artists, mouth-watering Cajun cuisine, raucous contests, and fun for all ages.
Now a four-day festival held each Memorial Day weekend, Mudbug Madness is nationally recognized as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events, drawing more than 50,000 56,000 people in one day.
Mudbug Madness created renewed interest in Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage and the event’s original organizers are proud to have brought a little bit of south Louisiana fun north to Shreveport.
The next festival is scheduled for May 24-26, 2024. More information is available at the Mudbug Madness website
The Original Downtown Crawfish Festival in Lake Charles
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The Original DownTown Lake Charles Crawfish Fest is scheduled to be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center in downtown Lake Charles. The event promotes awareness of the crawfish season, the history of the crawfish, and how the seafood industry has benefited Louisiana in the past 200 years.
Among the many events scheduled are the crawfish parade, crawfish pageant, carnival, art show and lots of great music!
More information at Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival website
Annual World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook-off in Eunice
The Annual World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook-off is scheduled at the Northwest Pavilion, 651 Samuel Drive, Eunice. There is free admission, free parking and music at the festival.
Taste with your eyes, ears & dancing feet the flavors of your favorite headline bands, your favorite etouffee, beautiful arts & crafts. Free Admission, Free Parking, FreeMusic & Fun for the Entire Family!
The next Crawfish Cook-off is scheduled for March 23, 2024
For details, visit the etouffeeCookOff.org website or Facebook page.
Crawfish Mambo: Cook Off & Music Festival on the Lake
The Annual Crawfish Mambo, which has grown into New Orleans' largest cook-off, is held in May of each year. Sample dozens of different crawfish boils cooked by teams competing for a cash "Best of Boil" prize and title. Feast on all-you-can-eat crawfish while the Mambo all-star music line-up keeps you dancing. Then take a break to shop the Mambo Artists Village before tasting some more.
The Mambo is held at the University of New Orleans, Lakefront Campus.
 Competition underway ... at Crawfish Mambo! |
NOLA Crawfish Festival
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Sure to be the tastiest – and funkiest – throwdown this Spring, the NOLA Crawfish Festival held at Central City BBQ, is the only one of its kind in New Orleans, with three days of MUSIC, BEER, and, of course, hot boiled CRAWFISH from NOLA Crawfish King.
Visitors and locals alike will find common ground here as they groove together to some of New Orleans's finest musicians. Twist, pinch and devour piles of mouthwatering crawfish and fixins.
It brings together a trifecta of Southeast Louisiana perfection - the absolute best crawfish, music, and beer the city has to offer, at Central City BBQ's Smokeyard, 1201 South Rampart Street in New Orleans.
For more details, visit www.NolaCrawfishFest.com
IMPORTANT NOTE Listed below are festivals and events normally scheduled most years. Emphasis is given to long-standing events and those with widespread appeal and popularity. Events are always subject to change. We recommended you contact the responsible event sponsor to confirm dates, times and other details. |
List of Louisiana Crawfish Festivals (By City)
| Festival | City |
Crawfete |
Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival |
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana |
Louisiana Crawfish Festival |
Chalmette, Louisiana |
World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook-off March 23, 2024 Website |
Eunice, Louisiana |
The Original Downtown Lake Charles Crawfish Festival Lake Charles Civic Center |
Lake Charles, Louisiana |
Annual Louisiana Crawfish Boil Championships The event is sanctioned by the State of Louisiana as the “official” Crawfish Boil Championship, with over 60 teams vying for the Louisiana Championship Belt and title for the best tasting boiled Crawfish in the state. Sample all of the Crawfish you care to eat, guaranteed until 6PM. We boil over 40,000 pounds of Crawfish. Live music and carnival rides too! 4529 6th Street |
Marrero, Louisiana |
Annual Pinch A Palooza Festival and Crawfish Eating Contest Family friendly crawfish and music festival! This free event takes place at Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant in Bucktown and offers live local music, activities for kids, and over 5,000 pounds of boiled crawfish. 1713 Lake Avenue |
Metairie, Louisiana |
Annual Old Metairie Crawfish Festival & Cookoff There will be live music all day. Beer, refreshments and access to children’s premium entertainment will be available for purchase. Admission to the event includes all you can eat crawfish and fixings from each of the 40 teams, jambalaya, and pizza. |
Metairie, Louisiana |
Crawfest |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
NOLA Crawfish Festival The Smokekyard @ Central City BBQ |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
Crawfish Mambo |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
Mudbug Madness |
Shreveport, Louisiana |
Annual All-You-Can-Eat Crawfish Cook-Off April 20. 2024 |
Slidell, Louisiana |
Riff Ridgel Crawfish Cookoff Benefit Located on the North Shore just a short drive from both New Orleans and Baton Rouge in Tickfaw, Louisiana you will enjoy a variety of all the boiled crawfish you care to eat! You can vote for the team with your favorite tasting crawfish while listening to local musicians. You may even choose to enter the crawfish eating contest or the washer-board tournament while the kids are enjoying activities in the children's tent. The Riff Ridgel Crawfish Cookoff is a 501(c)3 which provides financial support to local individuals with illnesses or disabilities. Over $80,000 has been distributed in the last 5 years to 11 beneficiaries. May 18, 2024 |
Tickfaw, Louisiana |
List of Crawfish Festivals in Other States
Crawfish festivals in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, California and other states
 Boiled Louisiana crawfish! |
Looking to stay awhile and experience catching and boiling crawfish in Louisiana?
Mrs. Rose’s Crawfish Haven/Bed and Breakfast near Kaplan, Louisiana, is a country home-turned-hotel where guests can harvest crawfish in a nearby pond and boil them up for supper. The home was built in 1903. Barry Toups owns the crawfish fields next to the bed-and-breakfast and harvests them for crawfish. For an extra fee, he will take guests in his boat and show them how crawfish are harvested. The B&B features three rooms of varying sizes and amenities.
It is located at 6807 Highway 35, Kaplan, LA 70548. Phone 337-652-8870.
For more information on your stay in Cajun Country at the B&B, visit www.CrawfishHaven.net
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