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Photo by Jessica Nohealapa'ahi
July 29, 2025
Medina Lake Cajun Festival still rolling out the good times
Contributed
You may wonder, what is a Cajun Festival doing in the Texas Hill Country? In 1981, the Lakehills Civic Center was desperately seeking a way to pay the mortgage on their building which was being foreclosed on. The Board of Directors asked the help of a recent Louisiana transplant, attorney Bob Caswell.
After buying time on the foreclosure, he suggested trying a gumbo cookoff as a fundraiser. At that time, it was a rather bold idea, because the Cajun craze had not really hit Texas yet. However, the event was a success and eventually grew into the Medina Lake Cajun Festival. It has now persevered for 44 years.
Each year, about 500 volunteers work to transform the grounds into a little slice of Cajun Country, decorating booths, cooking food to be served, and preparing for the influx of visitors.
Guests can listen and dance to Cajun and Zydeco music on two stages with bands from the heart of Louisiana, enjoy the best homemade Cajun food this side of Louisiana, and sample gumbos in the Great Gumbo Cook-off. Volunteer cooks prepare savory Cajun food cooked on site. Dishes include crawfish pies, jambalaya, fried catfish and shrimp, red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, bread pudding with whiskey sauce, and much more.
All day long two stages rock with Cajun and Zydeco music and a little Country and Western added in. There are two dance floors, and it’s impossible not to join in the exuberant dancing or at least tap your toes as you listen. Other attractions include an Arts and Crafts show and games for the kids. You can get special discount ticketing prices in advance at the Cajun Festival Website. Bulk package discounts are available.
MUSIC SCHEDULE
Fais Do Do Pavilion
10 a.m. to noon: Ca Va Bien (Tex/Cajun)
12.30 - 4:30 p.m.: 0ST Ramblers- Josh Huval (Cajun/Zydeco)
4:45 - 5:15 p.m.: Great Gumbo Cook-off Awards
5:15 - 9 p.m.: Don Fontenot & Les Amis Louisiane(Cajun)
Don Fontenot & Les Amis Louisiane(Cajun)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Jesse Lege & Bosco Stomp (Cajun)
3 - 5 p.m.: Ca Va Bien (Tex/Cajun)
5 - 9 p.m.: Toman Brothers (Country Western)
The festival is Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Lakehills Community Center. Admission is $15, and children 10 and under enter free. Parking is free and shuttle service is available.
All proceeds benefit the Lakehills Community Center, a non-profit charitable organization. For more information visit www.CajunFestival-MedinaLake.com or call 830-460-0600 or 210-885-6435 or e-mail [email protected]
Press Inquiries: Barbara Engel 830-751-2727 or Gary Cox at 210-885-6435 e-mail [email protected]
Website: www.cajunfestival-medinalake.com
Facebook: www.facebookmedinalakecajunfestival.com
After buying time on the foreclosure, he suggested trying a gumbo cookoff as a fundraiser. At that time, it was a rather bold idea, because the Cajun craze had not really hit Texas yet. However, the event was a success and eventually grew into the Medina Lake Cajun Festival. It has now persevered for 44 years.
Each year, about 500 volunteers work to transform the grounds into a little slice of Cajun Country, decorating booths, cooking food to be served, and preparing for the influx of visitors.
Guests can listen and dance to Cajun and Zydeco music on two stages with bands from the heart of Louisiana, enjoy the best homemade Cajun food this side of Louisiana, and sample gumbos in the Great Gumbo Cook-off. Volunteer cooks prepare savory Cajun food cooked on site. Dishes include crawfish pies, jambalaya, fried catfish and shrimp, red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee, bread pudding with whiskey sauce, and much more.
All day long two stages rock with Cajun and Zydeco music and a little Country and Western added in. There are two dance floors, and it’s impossible not to join in the exuberant dancing or at least tap your toes as you listen. Other attractions include an Arts and Crafts show and games for the kids. You can get special discount ticketing prices in advance at the Cajun Festival Website. Bulk package discounts are available.
MUSIC SCHEDULE
Fais Do Do Pavilion
10 a.m. to noon: Ca Va Bien (Tex/Cajun)
12.30 - 4:30 p.m.: 0ST Ramblers- Josh Huval (Cajun/Zydeco)
4:45 - 5:15 p.m.: Great Gumbo Cook-off Awards
5:15 - 9 p.m.: Don Fontenot & Les Amis Louisiane(Cajun)
Don Fontenot & Les Amis Louisiane(Cajun)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Jesse Lege & Bosco Stomp (Cajun)
3 - 5 p.m.: Ca Va Bien (Tex/Cajun)
5 - 9 p.m.: Toman Brothers (Country Western)
The festival is Saturday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Lakehills Community Center. Admission is $15, and children 10 and under enter free. Parking is free and shuttle service is available.
All proceeds benefit the Lakehills Community Center, a non-profit charitable organization. For more information visit www.CajunFestival-MedinaLake.com or call 830-460-0600 or 210-885-6435 or e-mail [email protected]
Press Inquiries: Barbara Engel 830-751-2727 or Gary Cox at 210-885-6435 e-mail [email protected]
Website: www.cajunfestival-medinalake.com
Facebook: www.facebookmedinalakecajunfestival.com