2011 Old Town Spring Crawfish Festival

The Old Town Spring Crawfish Festival 2011 was underway starting at 6pm last night, May 13th with all the vendor food stands, beer, music and activities up and running. Starting early Friday evening, we came early before the crowds to give us an opportunity to talk with some of the vendors. The festival, as always, offers something for everyone this year with rides for the kids including live Shetland ponies for the youngsters to ride and many amusement park rides. Two stages are set up; Zydeco stage and the Budweiser Crawfish state. The food offered is of plenty, which includes crawfish cooked many ways, Chinese food that includes Teriyaki Chicken, hamburgers and hotdogs plus many types of Cajun food. Some of the store vendors are closed but, at the entrance to the crawfish festival is at Doering Court where you find all the stores open during the crawfish festival. Music is also outside of the festival gates with some bands playing at the Java Caf©. Lots of fun for families and all ages starting Saturday, the 14th at 10am and continuing through Sunday; the festival will also continue next weekend so, if this weekend you are away, then come visit the festival the 2nd weekend of May 20th.

The food vendors start right at the entrance to Old Town Spring on Gentry Street starting with our number one selected vendor, who did not seem to have a name but I can tell you they offer crab cakes, a Creole Cajun platter, crawfish, Blackened Trout Amandine, Cajun Fried Calamari, Alligator, Coconut Shrimp and Lobster puffs. You can view by watching the video from our YouTube link at www.starbanquets.com. Making your way to the gates you will pass the Drip Java Caf© where you can catch a traditional breakfast and live bands from time to time. The entrance to the Festival is a Doering court where many stores are available for shopping. Up front in Doering Court is Connie’s Bath Shack and the Shabby Rose. Right at the gates is Suzy’s Italian Goodies, a good stop if you are thirsty from the long walk and a quick lunch that is not going to take your wallet for a loss. Suzy makes a different Italian special each day, so it is worth the stop to see what she has in store. The Dugout is an amazing sports store in the back along with a candle shop that offers some of the most unique candles that were designed with a one of a kind formula that is guaranteed to be the longest burning candles. Last but, not least, Carla’s Gifts Plus is known as the prime store in Old Town Spring and has gained much of a reputation for some of the most unique gift baskets in Houston. Carla’s Gifts Plus is a must stop for the children to pick up one of the Dino, frog and butterfly rocks. The Cajun music is blaring loud adding to the excitement all the way to the gates. An entire hour can be spent just on the walk to the gates.

Walking into the festival, the first expos that all must pass entering the festival are All American starting with the Houston Astros and the Lone Star Veterans Association. The Houston Astros booth is passing out flyers of their 2011 Bayou Bash on Saturday May 28^th, which Star Banquets and Travel will be posting at their Houston event website, www.houstonreservations.info. The Lone Star Veterans Association is a non-profit group assisting our Texas veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The bands play in the evenings and a listing of the bands are available at http://www.texascrawfishfestival.com. Friday night bands included Leon Chavis & The Zydeco Flames and Gerard Delafose Zydeco Band. Day time and evening, before the bands, stop by Chef Krista Nabors booth for an amazing cooking show. Another video interview was made of Karen & Greg’s Pistolettes, which is another one of our top food vendors in the festival. They are a must stop by and included in your food list for the day. We also stopped by and met C & L Nut Company who offers some wonderful tasting blazed pecans and other nuts. Many more food booths offer more Cajun food than you can imagine and many places to quench that includes soft drinks, beer and some amazing margaritas.

The Old Town Spring Crawfish Festival 2011 started off with a fun loving crowd, nice spring temperature and clear skies. Starting as the sun went down at 6pm last night, May 13th with all the vendor food stands, beer, music and activities up and running. We saw families, couples and lots of people coming for the fun of it all. Saturday the festival opens at 10am and continuing through Sunday; the festival will also continue next weekend so, if this weekend you are away, then come visit the festival the 2^nd weekend of May 20^th. The food vendors start right at the entrance to Old Town Spring on Gentry Street starting with our number one selected vendor right next to The Doll Hospital that offers the absolute best selection of food at the festival. Find Houston and Texas promoting organizations that include the Astros and the Lone Star Veterans Association. The Old Town Spring festival is visited from people from all over the South and for Houstonians who are Cajun food lovers, the festival is a must on the weekend entertainment schedule.