The Crawdad Festival 2024 - Northern California's Largest Crawfish Festival

Our Mission...
The Crawdad Festival, now entering its third year, has become a meaningful tradition in Sacramento, blending entertainment with community engagement and support for local businesses. As a small business, we’re committed to creating opportunities for economic growth and community connection. Bringing the Crawdad Festival to Sacramento has allowed us to give back by generating employment opportunities and providing a platform where small business owners can showcase their unique products and services to thousands of attendees.

Our mission extends beyond festival entertainment; it’s about fostering a vibrant marketplace that highlights the creativity and hard work of small businesses while enhancing the cultural landscape of Sacramento. Each year, we strive to expand these opportunities, empowering local vendors and community members alike to be part of something that benefits the entire region. Through our commitment to community support and economic development, the Crawdad Festival has become more than just an event—it’s a celebration of local talent, resilience, and community spirit.
CRAWDAD FESTIVAL INCLUDES...
Fun and entertainment for the entire family!
Crawfish Galore!
Thousands of pounds of live crawfish are imported from Louisiana farms. Our oversized commercial cookers pump out 500 pounds of crawfish every 20 minutes, with 16 stations ensuring a fast and convenient experience.
Music Festival
Enjoy a weekend filled with an exciting lineup of music performances featuring Zydeco, Cajun, Blues, Soul, Rhythm & Blues, Country, R&B Funk, & Southern Rock & Roll across three stages!
Kids Zone
Carnival rides, fun houses, and carnival games! Face painting, balloon twisting, magic show, free horse rides, live music performances and more!
Culinary Extravaganza
Get ready to dive into a foodie's paradise! Northern California's finest food and dessert vendors are gathering to show off their top-notch treats. From savory bites to sweet delights, it's a feast you won't want to miss. Join us and taste the best of NorCal!
Second Line Parade
Join the second line parade, a lively street procession deeply rooted rich cultural heritage. The second line parade is not just a spectacle to watch but an immersive experience that invites everyone to join in the spontaneous revelry, celebrating community, culture, and the joy of life.
Marketplace Shopping
Discover a range of shopping choices provided by local small businesses. Don't forget to visit the small non-profit organizations to explore their offerings too!
Classic Car Show
Experience the Car Show highlighting the finest classic cars of Northern California. Sponsored by Sacramento Lowrider Commission and Solidos Car & Bike Club of Sacramento.
Prizes & Raffle Giveaways!
Don't miss your chance to enter the Raffle for some exciting grand prizes on both Saturday and Sunday. Join in the dance contest for a chance to showcase your skills and compete for a cash prize awarded to the most impressive performers.
Cultural Experience
Step into a vibrant world where the arts come alive, as talented performers take the stage to captivate and inspire audiences with their dynamic expressions of culture and creativity.
Discover Local Fashion
Join us at the Crawdad Festival for a sensational fashion show showcasing the talent of our community's designers. Experience the fusion of fashion and festivity in a celebration of local creativity.
Miss Crawdad Festival
Join us in honoring tradition and beauty at the Miss Crawdad Festival. This esteemed competition showcases the grace, charm and poise of contestants as they embody the spirit of our beloved Crawdad Festival.
Crawfish Races
Get ready to cheer on your favorite crustacean athletes as they claw their way to victory in our thrilling crawfish races! Join us for an exhilarating day filled with excitement, laughter, and the unforgettable sight of these tiny titans scuttling towards the finish line.
Words from the Community.
“The Crawdad Festival was awesome this year. The Bands were great, the food also. I had a plate of crawdads and they were wonderful. They were cooked as good as mine. And thats 💯. I also was treated like A OUEEN !!!. I can wait for next year. .”
— Aldine Dossman Williams
“Definitely will attend next year!! The music was amazing 🤩 all the different booths brought such a variety to see. There was even a parade with a band and dancers! The crawdad souvenir booth had cute headbands,beads, and funny t-shirts. I am speechless with how delicious the crawdads were. It was lip smacking good”
— Renee Tyler
“The service was top shelf! There was no wait in line and the food was EXCELLENT! This was the best Crawdad festival I’ve ever attended. ”
— Jannie Prophet
“Great food from vendors all over! Good live music! The areas were shaded, fast service! Definitely attending again!”
— Dahmya Williams
“This years Crawdad festival at Cal Expo was truly an amazing experience!! I’m so happy they moved it from Isleton to the heart of Sacramento. The family that produced the event really incorporated, all the great things of living in northern California starting with the food, the music, and the culture. Me, my family and friends attended both days, I can’t even express how good the food options were they had something for everybody. I really like how they created zones for kids, car cultures, vendors, artist, and the parking was easy. The music lineups were amazing, my only wish this that this was a (3) three day event. I cannot wait till next year’s event, we really look forward to this experience again.”
— Mike Marangu
“The Crawdad Festival at Cal Expo was such a fun experience. There was plenty of shaded seating & it wasn't overly crowded. They had a wide variety of vendors with tons of great food choices. We also enjoyed the entertainment lineup. It’s nice to have the festival closer to home. We were at the Isleton location last year but didn’t care for that one. The space was too small in my opinion. People were shoulder to shoulder attempting to walk around. They also didn’t have as many food choices as Cal Expo. My family and I look forward to attending the Cal Expo Crawdad Festival next year.”
— Luv4tika
“This event was just WODERFUL!! It was such a joy to see all the different families meeting up with cousins they never met or new grand babies! I people watch😁 will definitely be in attendance next year!”
— Angela Holmes
“Tremendous job for the community. We can’t wait to see the 2025 crawdad festival”
— Mack Block
“Had a great time at Cal Expo for the Crawdad Festival! Everything was well organized and clean environment had the pleasure to network with some great people and show off some great product. Thank you so much for hosting! Can't wait to do it again next year!”
— Vashawn Jackson
“This was a great Father’s Day for me and my family the food the entertainment and the children area where they had kids on stage performing and rides and game we had a blast can’t wait til next Father’s Day”
— Tallcann G
“This was a great Father’s Day for me and my family the food the entertainment and the children area where they had kids on stage performing and rides and game we had a blast can’t wait til next Father’s Day”
— Mia Marshall
“We had a great time at the Crawdad Festival 2024! Great atmosphere and lots of friendly faces! This was a wonderful family event.”
— J Myers
“My husband and I had an awesome time!”
— Hailee Mills
“The BEST time ever!!!”
— Glenda Westbrook
FAQ's
The Crawdad Festival's Frequently Asked Questions
Is the festival free?
Can I pay for my entry ticket with a credit card?
Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the festival?
What is the refund policy?
What are my parking options?
How can I contact the organizer for questions?
Can I bring my dog to the festival?
Can I purchase tickets in advance?
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the festival for entry?
What measures are you taking around Covid-19?
Where is the festival located?
What can I bring to the event?
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Be the first to know about what's happening such as festival lineups, upcoming events, tickets, giveaways, coupons and more!
The Crawdad Festival 2023
A Smash Hit!
Thank you to everyone who made The Crawdad Festival 2023 an incredible success! From the lively atmosphere to the mouthwatering crawdad feasts, we couldn’t have asked for a better time!

THE CRAWDAD FESTIVAL

THE CRAWDAD FESTIVAL

THE CRAWDAD FESTIVAL

Our Mission...

CRAWDAD FESTIVAL INCLUDES...

Fun and entertainment for the entire family!

Crawfish Galore!

Music Festival

Kids Zone

Culinary Extravaganza

Second Line Parade

Marketplace Shopping

Classic Car Show

Prizes & Raffle Giveaways!

Cultural Experience

Discover Local Fashion

Miss Crawdad Festival

Crawfish Races

Words from the Community.

“The Crawdad Festival was awesome this year. The Bands were great, the food also. I had a plate of crawdads and they were wonderful. They were cooked as good as mine. And thats 💯. I also was treated like A OUEEN !!!. I can wait for next year. .”

“The service was top shelf! There was no wait in line and the food was EXCELLENT! This was the best Crawdad festival I’ve ever attended. ”

“Great food from vendors all over! Good live music! The areas were shaded, fast service! Definitely attending again!”

“This event was just WODERFUL!! It was such a joy to see all the different families meeting up with cousins they never met or new grand babies! I people watch😁 will definitely be in attendance next year!”

“Tremendous job for the community. We can’t wait to see the 2025 crawdad festival”

“Had a great time at Cal Expo for the Crawdad Festival! Everything was well organized and clean environment had the pleasure to network with some great people and show off some great product. Thank you so much for hosting! Can't wait to do it again next year!”

“This was a great Father’s Day for me and my family the food the entertainment and the children area where they had kids on stage performing and rides and game we had a blast can’t wait til next Father’s Day”

“This was a great Father’s Day for me and my family the food the entertainment and the children area where they had kids on stage performing and rides and game we had a blast can’t wait til next Father’s Day”

“We had a great time at the Crawdad Festival 2024! Great atmosphere and lots of friendly faces! This was a wonderful family event.”

“My husband and I had an awesome time!”

“The BEST time ever!!!”

FAQ's

The Crawdad Festival's Frequently Asked Questions

Join the E-List

Be the first to know about what's happening such as festival lineups, upcoming events, tickets, giveaways, coupons and more!

The Crawdad Festival 2023

A Smash Hit!

Thank you to everyone who made The Crawdad Festival 2023 an incredible success! From the lively atmosphere to the mouthwatering crawdad feasts, we couldn’t have asked for a better time!