Abilene is going Cajun this Saturday for the sixth annual Crawfish Boil.
A benefit for the Abilene Education Foundation, the festival has grown to be family friendly and will showcase the talent of Abilene Independent School District students. Proceeds of the event will go to benefit students and teachers of AISD, with a portion of the funds going toward the scholarship funds of Abilene High School and Cooper High School.
Formerly a part of Art Walk in downtown Abilene, this year the event will be at the same time and place of the Big Country Outdoor and Home Expo at the Taylor County Fairgrounds and Coliseum, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
The initial event was inspired when the AISD board of directors at the time noticed that it was difficult to get crawfish in Abilene, said Christine Curtis-Carr, AEF executive director.
New to this year’s festival, there will be a Crawfish Crawl 5K run/walk, an inflatable park for kids, vendors and food trucks. And for those who would like to put their strength to the test, they will have the opportunity to smash a car with a sledge hammer.
Because this year’s event is much larger, over 100 volunteers are anticipated to help at the event.
General admission is free for students and children 18 and under and $5 at the gate for adults. Admission to the Cajun festival and Home Expo, without a meal ticket, is $8. An adult crawfish and shrimp plate is $20 at the door and includes admission. Individual tickets for activities and drinks may also be purchased.
Those interested in participating in the 5K at Shotwell Stadium must arrive by 7:30 a.m. and bring $30 as well as a form found online to register. Registration includes a bib, T-shirt, registration and a goodie bag. Participants may run in honor of an AISD teacher.
“We wanted to kick off the event with something fun and different and to get teachers involved,” Curtis-Carr said about the 5K.
Tickets may be purchased in advance through Friday for a lower price. They may be purchased at the AISD Administration Office, 241 Pine St., from 8 a.m.-4:40 p.m.
