Celebrating 58 years since the first Crawfish Festival, Parc Hardy was filled this past weekend with locals who hosted mini family reunions along with visitors from all over the world.
It was another successful Crawfish Festival for the record books, as people showed up early and stayed late. There was plenty of food, Cajun/Zydeco music, arts and crafts vendors and carnival rides. The festival celebrates the crawfish, Cajun language, culture and music and is held the first weekend in May.
Tourists were spending money with the local vendors. Breaux Bridge artist Ash Gassiott tells of a man from Japan who spoke no English but wanted to buy a piece of her art. He took out his money, letting her collect the correct amount for the sale.
During the opening ceremonies students from the French immersion program recited the Pledge of Allegiance in French. The Crawfish Festival Association recognized Hall of Fame inductees Roland and Patricia Green, Le Roi de L‘ Ecrevisse T-Paul Thevenet, Crawfish Queen Gabrielle Hebert, local elected officials and Crawfish royalty.
Winners of the Celebrity Crawfish Eating Contest held on Friday were State Rep. Mike “Pete” Huval, Witness Gary and 2002 Crawfish Queen Jensie Darby.
Hanne Skou and Flemming Pedersen of Copenhagen, Denmark have been attending the festival for the past 10 years. Clyde Bodkin from Zionsville, Indiana attended his first festival 18 years ago and has returned every year as a volunteer.
Winner of the 2018 Crawfish Eating Contest was last year’s champion, Patrick Ezell, consuming 30.12 lbs. in 45-minutes. Only one woman competed this year, Valerie Landry from Fordoche.
Crawfish Etouffée Cook-off winners were Adam Latiolais and Richard Guidry, first; Witness Gary, second; and father and son team Allen and Jake Theriot, third. They used the recipe of Allen’s mother, the late Theresa Champagne, who operated a small cake shop during the 60’s in downtown Breaux Bridge.
The success of the festival is due in large part to the volunteer members of the Association’s board of directors who put in many hours preparing for the event.
Sunday morning, the parade rolled down Rees Street, and festivities ended at 4 p.m.
