Crawfish has always been a Louisiana treat, but from Aug. 3 to 4, SoCal will get the chance to indulge on this Cajun delicacy at the 20th Annual Long Beach Crawfish festival. This fest boasts a giant, international food court (featuring ribs, chicken, Jamaican, Chinese and Thai food), a dance floor, two stages, beach bars, a children’s area and more – it’s by the far the largest crawfish festival outside of Louisiana!
Make no mistake about it – this normally sold-out Crawfish Festival will have lots and lots of fresh crawfish and other Louisiana-style food made by authentic Cajun chefs. However, despite what its title might suggest, there is much more than only crawfish at this one-of-a-kind fest.
This family event strives to bring a large dose of Louisiana culture to SoCal, and it does so by introducing you to Cajun, Zydeco and New Orleans sounds of music. On Saturday, guests will see Bonne Musique Zydeco, the Royal Garden Dixieland Band and Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws. The latter is a group that offers very traditional Louisiana sounds fused with an urban vibe!
The last day of the festival serves up Creole soul with Ruben Moreno & Zydeco Re-Evolution, straight-out-of-Louisiana sounds with the Bayou Brothers and music from a passionate ensemble known as Cedryl Ballou and the Zydeco Trendsetters.
And here’s a bonus: if you have no idea how to dance to Zydeco (which is a genre that blends Cajun music, blues and R&B), A.J. Gibbs’ “Mr. 1 Man Show” will show you how to get down! He calls his Zydeco dancing style “MYDECO,” and he’ll teach you the basics as well as how to add hip-hop, break dance or salsa to your moves. He’ll be there for both days during this weekend-long fest.
Although this is a family event, there are some festival features that adults will appreciate. For example, head over to the “TV Wall,” where you can watch your favorite college and professional sporting events while you eat and drink (yes, there will be beer, wine and liquor available!).
As for the kids - make sure you bring them to the children’s stage. This stage features storytelling, magicians, inflatable impressions, bounces and more. For example, little ones will get a kick out of Terrell & Takako, a dynamic duo of variety entertainers. These two specialize in juggling, magic, mime, origami and riding unicycles.
If you’re under the impression that a festival with this much activity is unaffordable, you’re wrong. A one-day presale general admission ticket is only $13!
So, if you yearn for “screaming crawfish” and that jazzy, soulful Louisiana vibe, then the 20th Annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival is an event you don't want to miss.
For more info on ticket prices and options, click here.
The 20th Annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival takes place at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach, Calif. from Aug. 3-4. On Saturday, Aug. 3, festival hours are 12 Noon to 11 p.m. On Sunday, Aug. 4, festival hours are 12 Noon to 10 p.m.
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