First you feel the heat. Then you hear the music. The accordion and fiddle wailing above that chanky-chank beat we love. Last weekend was Crawfish Festival time in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana and it was everything we've come to expect. Heaping helpings of irresistible food and the kind of music that makes your feet tap and your hips sway whether you want them to or not. It’s always held the first full weekend in May and it’s always a big crowd. You can count on it sure as the sunburn you’ll nurse for the next week.
The Breaux Bridge Crawfish festival is a celebration of all things crawfish and this year the ‘dads were large and plentiful. Recently named a “Top Ten Food Festival” by USA today, the festival has been a favorite of Louisiana natives for years. It’s no wonder the secret is out.
They say crawfish étouffée was invented here in Breaux Bridge. After talking to some old timers, I also learned how the 1959 designation of their town as "la capitale Mondiale de l'ecrevisse" or "the crawfish capital of the world" was celebrated by a little street party in the town’s center in 1960. The town saw it as an opportunity to promote the local crawfish industry and the many fine restaurants springing up in the area and, of course, a great way to “pass a good time.” Undoubtedly at the first festival, the large pots were brought out and someone showed up with a fiddle. The kids all ran crazy and everyone danced. (OK, I’m just guessing on that part but it’s an educated guess).
The next year, they invited some friends. And a few more showed up the year after that. The rest is history. It’s turned out to be the biggest thing for Breaux Bridge since Firmin Breaux built his little bridge over Bayou Teche, resulting in the formation and naming of this town.
The party just keeps getting bigger, as parties often do in Louisiana. It’s not just the Breaux’s, Boudreaux’s and Thibodeaux’s anymore. The festival attracts visitors from all over the world. By 1983 the festival had spread from the downtown area to Parc Hardy on the edge of town, which provided the room needed for amusement rides. It was moved completely to the Parc Hardy site in 1986. According to Mark Bernard of the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Association, the new location provided “more room and better security”.
This year’s festival was one of the best ever. Though the headcount will be tallied over the next week, Mr. Bernard estimates over 8,000 lbs of boiled crawfish were consumed and at least 2,500 lbs more in an array of mouth watering dishes such as crawfish fettuccine, crawfish jambalaya, crawfish boudin, crawfish enchiladas and fried crawfish tails. It was truly a showcase of Cajun Cuisine.
As for that little fiddle that set the local families to dancing in 1960? 30 bands were booked for this year’s festival performing on 3 stages. It was a rich collection of Zydeco, Cajun and Swamp Pop performers including the likes of Hunter Hays & Louisiana Hot, Zydeco Joe, Geno Delafose & French Rocking Boogie, Nathan Williams & The Zydeco Cha Chas, and Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys.
My only regret is I have not yet learned to eat and dance at the same time. I'm working on it.
The Crawfish Festival in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana is much like it’s featured dish. Always hot. Always good. And always the first week in May. If you missed it this year, don’t forget to mark your calendar for 2008!

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Click the link below for the sights and sounds of this year's festival. The music you will be hearing is "Black Cat" by Zydeco Joe, produced by Cullen Washington Productions.