GULF SHORES — There's no need to travel all the way to Louisiana to enjoy a little zydeco with a side of crawfish. The Waterway Village in Gulf Shores will host the seventh annual Zydeco and Crawfish Festival April 21-22.

For the first time since the inaugural event, the festival has expanded to two days with the addition of a ticketed concert Friday night.

The 2022 festival saw a slight change in the location of the festival which moved it across the street from the original site. Gulf Shores program and event manager, Brigette Reynolds, said the location change improved pedestrian traffic flow and provided a flat surface for dancing in front of the stage area.

"Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Sports and Events has generously awarded grant funding for 2023. This has allowed us to create a special experience Friday evening. Rebirth Brass Band will take the stage for a ticketed event," Reynolds said. "While the crawfish will not be available that evening, local food trucks will be on-site, and the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber will be selling beverages. The merchants and committee feel this is a great way to expand the festival and still keep a quality small town feel."

Friday's ticketed concert will begin at 6 p.m. with an opening act and the headliner, Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans, Louisiana, will take the stage from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $29 each and can be purchased online by visiting gulfshoresal.gov/crawfishfestival.

Start the festival fun Saturday at 8 a.m. with the Zydeco Crawfish Festival 5K and 1-mile fun run benefiting the Waterway Village Merchants Association. For more information on the run or to register, visit gulfshoresal.gov/crawfishfestival.

Vendors will open their tents at 9 a.m., the flame under the crawfish pots will lite at 10 a.m. and the Zydeco will continue until 6 p.m.

What to expect?

When asked what visitors can expect and do, Reynolds said, "watch the massive pots of crawfish being cooked on-site, as much as 10,000 pounds in one day. Local artists selling their wares. Children's activities, live music, a traditional second line brass band, food and beverage from various waterway Village merchants, beer and wine sales by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, a 5k run and of course some tail pinchin' and head sucking around artfully decorated crawfish tables."

Saturday's Music Lineup:

10 – 11:15 a.m. – Amanda Shaw
11:15 – 11:30 a.m. – Excelsior Band
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Chubby Carrier
1 – 1:15 p.m. – Excelsior Band
1:15 – 2:30 p.m. – Wayne Singleton
2:30 – 2:24 p.m. – Excelsior Band
2:45 – 4:15 p.m. – Corey Ledet
4:15 – 4:30 p.m. – Excelsior Band
4:30 – 6 p.m. – Sean Ardoin

Location

The Waterway Village Zydeco and Crawfish Festival will be located along East 24th Avenue in the Waterway Village Public parking lot. Admission is free to the public.

Poster Contest

Are you an artist? There is still time to enter your artwork in the 2023 Zydeco and Crawfish Festival poster contest. Art must be submitted by March 10. The winning artist will receive $500. For contest rules and an application, visit gulfshoresal.gov/crawfishfestival.

Parking/Shuttles

Free shuttles will run from the Erie Meyer Civic Center, Meyer Park and Gulf Shores First Presbyterian Church. Shuttle services will run from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. East 24th Avenue will be closed to all traffic from the W.C. Holmes Bridge to Acme Oyster House during the 5K and 1-mile Fun Run.

Public parking/shuttle service is available at:

• Erie H. Meyer Civic Center, 1930 W. 2nd St., Gulf Shores
• Meyer Park, 400 E. 22nd Ave., Gulf Shores
• Gulf Shores First Presbyterian Church, 309 E 21st Ave., Gulf Shores.