Break out the beads, Long Beach, because tickets are now on sale for the three-day 22nd Annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival, to take place with all its Louisiana-flavored fun at Rainbow Lagoon from Friday, August 14 to Sunday, August 16.
Join the parade as New Orleans alights in California to what the organizers tout as the largest Mardi-Gras experience west of the Mississippi. At the least, it’s the largest crawfish festival outside of Louisiana, according to a 2013 KTLA5 segment.
Specific tickets purchased gives guests access to pounds, yes pounds of steamed crawfish, including red baby potatoes, corn on the cob and dipping sauce. But, if you’re not a fan of the crunchy crustacean, but still want to take a bite out of the Louisiana-style festivities, fear not, you won’t go hungry. Ribs, chicken, Jamaican, Chinese and Thai, among other international foods, will be available for all attendees to devour. And don’t forget to try the New Orleans French Quarter tradition of enjoying a cup of chicory coffee with a beignet deep fried in choux paste, certainly a treat to keep you going after you’ve crumbled from a crawfish, or Jamaican food, overload.
To set the tone on Friday evening, Bennie & The Swamp Gators will take the main stage live, while dance instructions, from Zydeco to Mydeco will be given regularly throughout the night and weekend. On Saturday, headliner Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws will return alongside Theo & The Zydeco Patrol, Bonne Musique Zydeco, Acadiana with Teresa Russell and the California Feetwarmers. On Sunday Ruben Moreno & Zydeco Revolution will set the lively mood.
Newly added to the festival this year is the VIP Experience, which includes a souvenir bucket filled with three pounds of fresh live steamed crawfish, red baby potatoes and corn on the cob with a dipping sauce and dessert, served inside the VIP seating area with an exclusive wait staff. For more information about VIP tickets and all they include, click here.
To purchase tickets in advance, click here. The festival also honors military personnel by offering them free General Admission.
For more information about the Long Beach Crawfish Festival, click here or visit the Facebook page for festival updates here.
Images courtesy of Long Beach Crawfish Festival.