As a Louisiana native, nothing gets me more excited than the thought of eating unlimited crawfish on a warm spring day. Luckily for Tulane University students, this dream comes true every spring semester. Tulane’s annual crawfish boil, Crawfest, is set to take place on April 5, 2025.
One of the largest student-run festivals in the country, Crawfest was started in 2007 by students who wanted an event in the spring that rivaled the excitement of Homecoming in the fall. After last year’s crawfish shortage scare, Crawfest 2025 promises a day full of fun and food.
Tickets are free for students who register with their Splash Card ID number and $20 for non-students — a pretty good deal for all-you-can-eat crawfish. Along with food, the festival boasts live music, fun activities and a good atmosphere. The festivities spread from the Berger Family Lawn to the edge of Freret Street and offer something for everyone. For festivalgoers who do not eat meat, or simply do not like crawfish, other local food and drink vendors offer food for purchase during the festival. Crawfest boils thousands of pounds of crawfish for its guests every year, but the event is first come, first served, so it is important to arrive early to claim your serving.
Although crawfish boils are thought of as Cajun cultural events, crawfish have been eaten by people in Louisiana since the pre-colonial era by Native American peoples who took advantage of the native and abundant crustaceans. Catholic restrictions on the consumption of meat led to crawfish’s prominent place in Louisiana cuisine. The crawfish boil as we know it now found its way into popular culture around 1960 after the first Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival and Elvis Presley’s praises in “King Creole.” Crawfish boils are usually filled with family, friends and laughter, something that Crawfest certainly brings with it.
Along with Louisiana food traditions, Crawfest exposes Tulane students to local music. With two stages for performers, Crawfest includes nonstop music for attendees to enjoy while peeling their mudbugs. This year’s musical lineup features the two-time Grammy award-winning Lost Bayou Ramblers. The Louisiana natives incorporate Cajun and Creole melodies — which were so formative to Louisiana’s musical sound — into modern funk, punk and fuzz sounds, bridging boundaries of time and genre. Local artist and Tulane alumna Olivia Barnes is slated to play her folk-indie-rock sound from 12:15 to 1 p.m. Pocket Chocolate, a seven-piece ensemble of New Orleans locals, will bring more sounds native to the city with their soul and funk songs.
Crawfest also brings in artists from across the country to contribute their music. Cardinal Bloom, an indie-rock outfit from Salt Lake City, will also take the stage on Saturday from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m., and Quarters of Change, a quartet from New York City, will follow to play alternative pop rock.
Despite being in the heart of the city, Tulane often faces criticism for its separation from New Orleans culture. Crawfest’s cultural and musical contributions represent a small step towards connecting campus with the rest of the city while creating a campus-wide tradition that builds community so students can look forward to it year after year.
