Crawfish season has almost arrived in Memphis! Here are the dates and info for 2019’s Memphis crawfish festivals and places in Memphis that do crawfish specials and boils. I’ll be updating this as the season goes on. Submit your event here.
Festivals + One Day Events
Overton Square’s Crawfish Festival
This event is nuts. It’s a million people, a million pounds of crawfish, streets full of vendors, art, music, and activities. It’s chaotic (especially later in the day) but in a fun way. Think of it as the official start to Spring in midtown. It’s also the same day as the Lucero Block Party. This year the event benefits A Betor Way non-profit.
They will tow your car if you leave it in a lot in Overton the night before. Don’t ask me how I know.
Saturday April 13, 2019
noon to 6 p.m.
Overton Square and surrounding streets
free to enter, food and drink for sale
Porter Leath’s Rajun Cajun Crawfish Fest
Memphis’ other huge crawfish fest (possibly bigger than Overton? I haven’t seen the numbers…) is Rajun Cajun. This downtown event benefits Porter Leath and is spread out along Riverside Drive and all up in Wagner Place. There are three stages of live music, lots of games and contests, food vendors, a kids’ area, and another million pounds of crawfish.
You can sign up for your team to compete in the Gumbo Cooking Contest here.
April 28, 2019
11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wagner Place and Riverside Drive between Union Avenue and Beale Street
free to enter, food and drink for sale
VIP “Swamp Tent” tickets available
Cooper Young Community Farmers Market Crawfish Boil
information TBA
Boils and Specials
Cajun Catfish Co. in Collierville will have crawfish in a few weeks, available daily. Last year they had all-you-can-eat specials on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Watch their FB page to find out when they’ll start.
The Crawfish Shack Food Truck sets up at 1375 N. Germantown Parkway on weekends, usually selling by the pound and in plates until they sell out. Watch their FB page for schedule, availability, and prices.
Max’s Sports Bar in downtown Memphis does crawfish boils most Saturdays during the season, but be sure to check their Twitter, etc, for updates. The first boil is Saturday, February 2 at 11 a.m. It’s $12 per pound + tax or $20 for two pounds. Sides like sausage, potatoes, and corn included in price but not weight (nice!) No pets or kids.
Ellis Seafood (1379 Getwell) sells fresh, live crawfish by the pound when in season. Call ahead.
Flying Fish downtown offers boiled crawfish when available, a fried crawfish poboy, and crawfish chowder.Call ahead.
The Bluff on Highland will host crawfish boils every Saturday from Feb. 9 to April 27, from noon until they run out. It comes with corn, mushrooms, onions, sausage, and potatoes, and is $20 for two pounds plus tax.
Keep an eye on Memphis Mudbugs and The Crawdad Dudes.
Mortimer’s has crawfish boils sometimes. Will update.