It is just a few days before the deadline to order the crawfish for Friday’s crawfish boil, and Shelley Loe hopes to place a really big order.
“We usually order 1,000 pounds, and we always have to turn people away,” said Loe, executive vice president of the Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the annual Downtown Crawfest, which is presented by Southern Bancorp. The crawfish boil, set for 5:30 p.m. Friday, will kick off the two-day event in downtown Arkadelphia that will feature live music and a variety of activities for the whole family. Part of Clinton Street will be blocked off for the event.
“The locals love them,” said Loe, referring to the small lobsterlike freshwater
crustaceans known by several names — crawfish, crawdads and even mudbugs.
“This year, we are ordering the crawfish from Nancy’s Seafood [Shack] in Houma, Louisiana,” Loe said, adding that she will place the order on Tuesday. “They will come here and cook it on-site.
“We always order extra based on pre-sales,” she said, adding that tickets to the crawfish boil have been on sale for several weeks.
“Tickets are pre-sale up to Thursday, but we will order some extra [crawfish] just in case,” she said. “Pre-sale tickets allow us to order more so no one is turned away. In the past, we have ordered 1,000 pounds, and we always turn people away.”
Crawfish and the fixings will be served in the parking lot at 617 Clinton St. in downtown Arkadelphia.
Tickets to the crawfish boil are $20 and may be purchased at both Southern Bancorp locations in Arkadelphia — 605 Main St. and 2500 Pine St. — and the Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce, 2401 Pine St.
“The chamber has a great partnership with Southern Bancorp, the city of Arkadelphia and the Downtown Arkadelphia organization,” Loe said. “This event, which is the fifth annual, is to provide local entertainment and showcase our downtown area.”
In addition to the crawfish boil, Honeycomb Restaurant, JavaPrimo Coffee House and Cafe, and Slim and Shorty’s will be open, offering food and drink options. Additionally, Little Penguin Tacos and Karen’s Kitchen food trucks will have made-to-order tacos, fresh-squeezed lemonade and kettle corn.
Following the crawfish boil, patrons can watch a crawfish-eating contest, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Each contestant will eat up to 5 pounds of crawfish within five minutes.
“Only two spots remain for the crawfish-eating contest,” Loe said just a few days ago. The deadline to enter is Friday; the entry fee is $100.
Afton Oelmann, winner of last year’s crawfish-eating contest, will serve as master of ceremonies for this year’s event.
Oelmann, 29, of Arkadelphia, said she was the “only girl” to compete last year.
“Last year was my second time to compete. I tried the year before but did not win. I was ready last year. I knew I could do it,” said Oelmann, who is a beautician at the Gossip Shop Salon & Boutique in Arkadelphia.
“I hope more women enter this year. I feel we have an advantage because we have fingernails and can peel [the crawfish] better than the men. I grew mine out just for the contest,” she said.
“It was a lot of fun,” Oelmann said, noting that she practiced a few days before the contest. “I’ve always liked crawfish.”
Loe said this year’s winner of the crawfish-eating contest will receive a new trophy built by Bud McMillion, instructor, and his students in the Badger Idea Lab at Arkadelphia High School. All design work was done in the lab with computer-aided-design workstations and 3-D printers.
Dixie Jade, presented by South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative Inc., will play throughout Friday evening, beginning at 5 p.m. The duo features Andrea Crisalli on vocals and piano and Dominique Ruiz on vocals and lead guitar. They are based in Nashville, Tennessee.
“I saw them perform at an Arkansas Festivals and Events Association conference this year,” Loe said. “I thought they were excellent and would be perfect for Crawfest.
“They have a Fleetwood Mac sound.”
In April 2015, Dixie Jade released their debut EP, With a Little Grit, which was recorded on Music Row at Warner Music Studios in Nashville. The EP features the single “Grit and Amazing Grace.”
The public is invited to meet the duo at a free meet-and-greet session from 5:30-6:15 p.m. Friday at Shuffield Music Co., 619 Clinton St.
“The music is free,” Loe said. “We ask that everyone bring a lawn chair.”
Loe said that this year, the chamber is also partnering with the Rockin’ U Roundup Club that is sponsoring Crawfest Rockin’ Bulls and Barrels at 8 p.m. Friday at the Rockin’ U Arena, 111 U.S. 67.
Those planning to attend both the crawfish boil and the bull-riding and barrel-racing event may purchase bundle tickets at a discounted price of $24 for adults and $22 for children. Those tickets are also available at Southern Bancorp locations and the chamber office.
Additional events on Friday include the Southwest Sporting Goods Baggo Tournament at 7 p.m.; a kids’ play zone from 5:30-8 p.m., sponsored by the Arkadelphia Police Department; and the Kiwanis of Clark County Dunking Booth from
5-8 p.m.
Saturday’s events will begin early.
The Crawfest Crawl 5K and 10K will start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday on Clinton Street. The Southern Bancorp
Andy Allison Super Kids Run will start at 10:30 a.m. at 601 Main St.
Those who want to participate in men’s or co-ed softball tournaments should call Derek at (501) 213-6110. Games will start at 9 a.m. Saturday at Feaster Park.
Kids’ activities will continue with the Cajun Classic Dog Show, hosted by the Humane Society of Clark County, which is set for 1 p.m. at Gazebo Park.
The Arkadelphia Arts Center Art Show will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 625 Main St. There is no admission charge.
Also on Saturday will be the Rockin’ Crawfest Ranch Rodeo at the Rockin’ U Arena. Gates will open at 4 p.m. There is no admission charge.
“We invite all area businesses to participate with activities and food offerings to make the Downtown Crawfest truly a community event,” Loe said, adding that local restaurants and vendors will be open for breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
Crawfest T-shirts, which are $10 each, are available in advance at the chamber of commerce and the Diamond Lake Visitors Center at Caddo Valley; the shirts will also be available at the festival.
For more information on Downtown Crawfest, call the Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce at (870) 246-5542 or email ashlee@arkadelphiaalliance.com.