Louisiana Crawfish Festival 2025 in New Orleans

Shrimp boats and oyster luggers fishing at bayous are part of Louisiana's heritage. The annual Louisiana Crawfish Festival celebrates the state's favorite seafood every March in the town of Chalmette, situated in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Founded in 1975, the festival has become one of the most significant tourist attractions of the Bayou State.

Festival Attractions & Events

Surrounded by moss-covered trees with a view of the Mississippi River, the festival brings lots of joy to all fans of Cajun cuisine. Visitors can try dozens of crawfish dishes: crawfish bread, crawfish pies, crawfish jambalaya, and much more. To cleanse your palate between all the crawfish goodies, attendees can also enjoy other traditional carnival foods, like ice cream, cotton candy, and corn on the cob. Cajun live music, arts and crafts, midway with rides, and the giant Ferris wheel contribute​ to the unique atmosphere of this event.

Children will love carnival games with flashing lights, which challenge youngsters' skills to pop balloons, throw rings, or shoot hoops. The Arts and Crafts fair offers everything from cups and straw hats to home decor items, license plates, and key chains.

Music Lineup

Besides the exciting games, delicious crawfish delicacies, and fairs, musicians light up the stage with groovy music, entertaining the crowds with live performances. The festival lineups have always been known for featuring many acts by local musicians and those from the neighboring states. The 2025 edition is set to feature the comeback of Rick Mocklin & The Southern Voice Band, Karen Waldrup, Chapel Hart, Laine Hardy, 90 Degrees West Band, Petty Betty Live, The Chee-Weez, Harvey Jesus & Fire, Nonc Nu & Da Wild Matous, Caleb Lapeyrouse & The Drivers, and Bayou Stampede.

Schedule & Admission

Louisiana Crawfish Festival runs from 5 pm to 10 pm on Thursday, from 5 pm to 11 pm on Friday, from 11 am until 11 pm on Saturday, and from 11 am until 8 pm on Sunday. The opening ceremony takes place at 6 pm on Thursday. Admission to the festival is free on Thursday, $20 on Friday and $10 on Saturday and Sunday. Children 12 years old and under can enter for free on Friday, while individuals 4 feet (1.2 m) and under can attend the festival for free on Saturday and Sunday. Additionally, first responders and military personnel are eligible for free admission with ID.

Carnival Rides Tickets & Hours

To enjoy all the thrilling attractions and rides the Louisiana Crawfish Festival has to offer, consider purchasing a carnival ride ticket. The ticket costs $20 on Thursday, $25 on Friday, and $30 on Saturday and Sunday. The rides operate from 6 pm to 10 pm on Thursday, from 6 pm to 11 pm on Friday, from noon until 11 pm on Saturday, and from 12 pm until 8 pm on Sunday.

Location

The event takes place at Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center (St. Bernard Parish Government Complex site), which is located just 6 miles (10 km) from New Orleans' French Quarter. This makes the festival a great option for experiencing one part of Louisiana's culture while you're in New Orleans.