Arts & Entertainment
NJ Crawfish Festival Returns After 2 Years Of COVID Cancellations
"I gotta tell you, it's going to be like a big family reunion," said Michael Arnone, founder of the annual Crawfish Fest in Sussex County.
SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — Crawfish straight off the boat from the waters of Louisana are finally back in Jersey. Michael Arnone's 31st Annual Crawfish Fest returns Friday, Saturday and Sunday to the Sussex County Fairgrounds following two years of cancellations due to the COVID pandemic.
"I gotta tell you, it's going to be like a big family reunion," said Arnone, founder of Crawfish Fest.
Louisana native Arnone talked with Patch about his excitement to finally return to New Jersey. The last festival was held in 2019.
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"We are just happy to be back. We have great talent and great food - crawfish, jambalaya, alligator sausage, oysters. We are back," said Arnone.
The three-day festival draws around 17,000 people each year depending on the weather.
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Arnone said he brought up nearly 10,000 pounds of crawfish up to New Jersey.
"They left Louisiana [Wednesday]. They were trapped on Tuesday and put on a refrigerator truck. They are still alive just waiting to be boiled," said Arnone.
The crawfish is fresh from Louisiana.
"They are right off the boat. From the bayou to the table," said Arnone.
The festival was launched in 1989. Arnone who lives in Lousiana was working as a union electrician in the 80s in New Jersey.
"I was homesick so I threw a little party in 1989 and it kept getting bigger and bigger and people love it. Now I am a festival producer," Arnone. "Who would've thought?"
The first year the festival was held it drew 70 people and served up 300 pounds of crawfish. It has since exploded drawing people from all over the country.
Along with great food, the festival features music from Louisiana and New Orleans including Cajun, Zydeco, Delta Blues, New Orleans R&B, Brass, Gospel and Jazz performed on three different stages.
See the stage schedule to see the lineup.
Tickets are available at the door for $45 per day (under 14 free with parent) on Saturday and Sunday only. Or online at crawfishfest.com.
"Just come out and have a great time. We are excited to be back in business," said Arnone.
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