This year’s St. Charles Parish First Responders Crawfish Cook-Off will not only offer fun activities and all-you-can-eat crawfish, but will debut a new location that offers more space and parking.
The eighth annual event will take place at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center, located at 274 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway in Luling. It’s set for May 11 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
“As our event has been growing, we have been needing more space,” Natalie Robert Wright, an ER nurse who serves as committee chair for the One Team-One Fight nonprofit organization, said. “The community center is perfect for spacing, easier access for drainage, and has multiple parking locations to secure with the schools.”
And while crawfish is in short supply, Wright doesn’t think it will hamper the cook-off.
“It has been a thought of ours, but talking to the vendors weekly I feel a little reassured that we should have the quantity of crawfish,” she said. “Since our event is not until May, they are assuring me we should have plenty of crawfish by then. They are willing to work with us on the pricing since a majority of them donate by reducing the sale price.
“We also have strong support from the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing board.”
Along with all-you-can-eat crawfish, hamburgers, hotdogs and lagniappe fixings will be available. No outside food, beverages or pets are allowed, but beverages and beer will be available for purchase.
The event is a family affair. In addition to live music from the Chase Tyler Band, there will be plenty of activities for kids.
“We have a petting zoo along with face painting secured for this year,” Wright said. “We are working on getting the portable firehouse, mini golf and corn hole games as well. We also have some of our teams that put on events for the kids.”
All proceeds of the cook-off will go to support the first responders of St. Charles Parish. Wright said the money raised is split into three checks – one for the Sheriff Office’s Fraternal Order of Police, one for the St. Charles Parish Fireman’s Association and the last for the St. Charles Parish Hospital’s emergency medical unit.
“The very first year we raised $7,000. We have increased every year since then,” she said. “Our best year we raised close to $29,000 after expenses. We are receiving more and more donations, along with sponsors and support, so we are hoping to have a big turnout for this event.”
Last year, despite bad weather, 39 teams took part in the cook-off and there were around 2,500 attendees.
“If it wasn’t for the weather that came through, I think it would’ve been a very successful event,” Wright added.
