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July 26, 2026
45th annual Medina Lake Cajun Festival slated for Sept. 26
By Ron Clarke
Medina Lake Cajun Festival
Who says you have to drive to Louisiana for an authentic Cajun celebration?
For 45 incredible years, the Medina Lake Cajun Festival has transformed the Texas Hill Country into a lively bayou filled with sizzling Cajun cuisine, award-winning gumbo, toe-tapping Cajun Zydeco music, and thousands of smiling festival-goers. That tradition continues again for 2026.
But this beloved tradition almost never happened.
Back in 1981, the Lakehills Community Center was facing foreclosure and desperately searching for a way to save its building. Enter Louisiana attorney Bob Caswell, a recent transplant with a bold idea: hold a gumbo cook-off.
At the time, Cajun food was virtually unheard of in Texas. It was a gamble. However, that gamble paid off in a big way.
What started as a last-ditch fundraiser has grown into one of the Hill Country's most anticipated annual festivals, attracting visitors from across Texas and beyond while raising vital funds for the Lakehills Community Center. It is now one of the largest Cajun Festivals in Texas.
Over the next few months, nearly 500 volunteers spend months preparing for the event, transforming the grounds into a colorful slice of Cajun Country. They decorate every corner, stir giant pots of gumbo, prepare thousands of pounds of food, fire up the kitchens, and create an unforgettable experience for thousands of
guests.
Come hungry! You'll feast on homemade Cajun favorites including:
• Crawfish Étouffée
• Jambalaya
• Crawfish Pie
• Fried Catfish
• Fried Shrimp
• Red Beans & Rice
• Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce
• And plenty more Louisiana classics.
Then sample the entries in the famous original Medina Lake Gumbo Cook-Off, where talented cooks compete for bragging rights and visitors get to taste the delicious results.
And don't forget your dancing shoes.
Two stages feature authentic Cajun and Zydeco bands straight from Louisiana, along with a little Country & Western mixed in for good measure. Whether you're an experienced dancer or just love great live music, you’ll find yourself clapping, dancing, or tapping your feet before the first song is over.
Families will also enjoy:
• Arts & Crafts vendors
• Children's games and activities
• Free parking
• Convenient shuttle service
Want to save a little money? Purchase your tickets in advance online, where discounted admission and group packages are available.
The Medina Lake Cajun Festival will be Saturday, Sept. 26, (always the fourth Saturday of September!), from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Lakehills Community Center, 11224 PR 37, Lakehills — just 30 miles northwest of San Antonio.
Admission is $15 adults, and children 10 and under are free. Food prices are still incredibly low and competitive.
Every ticket purchased helps support the Lakehills Community Center, a nonprofit organization serving the community year-round with senior and youth programs. Volunteers are needed. If you wish to volunteer, please call Barbara at 830-460-0600. It’s a fun and terrific way to help the community and volunteers get free access to the Cajun Festival.
Bring your friends. Dance all day. Make memories.
The Medina Lake Cajun Festival isn't just an event—it's a Hill Country tradition that's been bringing people together for 45 unforgettable years.
For advance tickets and event information, such as parking, rules, food, and fun, visit www.CajunFestival-MedinaLake.com or call 830-460-0600. Tickets may also be purchased locally, at the Cutaway Salon, located at 9650 FM 1283 in Lakehills.
For 45 incredible years, the Medina Lake Cajun Festival has transformed the Texas Hill Country into a lively bayou filled with sizzling Cajun cuisine, award-winning gumbo, toe-tapping Cajun Zydeco music, and thousands of smiling festival-goers. That tradition continues again for 2026.
But this beloved tradition almost never happened.
Back in 1981, the Lakehills Community Center was facing foreclosure and desperately searching for a way to save its building. Enter Louisiana attorney Bob Caswell, a recent transplant with a bold idea: hold a gumbo cook-off.
At the time, Cajun food was virtually unheard of in Texas. It was a gamble. However, that gamble paid off in a big way.
What started as a last-ditch fundraiser has grown into one of the Hill Country's most anticipated annual festivals, attracting visitors from across Texas and beyond while raising vital funds for the Lakehills Community Center. It is now one of the largest Cajun Festivals in Texas.
Over the next few months, nearly 500 volunteers spend months preparing for the event, transforming the grounds into a colorful slice of Cajun Country. They decorate every corner, stir giant pots of gumbo, prepare thousands of pounds of food, fire up the kitchens, and create an unforgettable experience for thousands of
guests.
Come hungry! You'll feast on homemade Cajun favorites including:
• Crawfish Étouffée
• Jambalaya
• Crawfish Pie
• Fried Catfish
• Fried Shrimp
• Red Beans & Rice
• Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce
• And plenty more Louisiana classics.
Then sample the entries in the famous original Medina Lake Gumbo Cook-Off, where talented cooks compete for bragging rights and visitors get to taste the delicious results.
And don't forget your dancing shoes.
Two stages feature authentic Cajun and Zydeco bands straight from Louisiana, along with a little Country & Western mixed in for good measure. Whether you're an experienced dancer or just love great live music, you’ll find yourself clapping, dancing, or tapping your feet before the first song is over.
Families will also enjoy:
• Arts & Crafts vendors
• Children's games and activities
• Free parking
• Convenient shuttle service
Want to save a little money? Purchase your tickets in advance online, where discounted admission and group packages are available.
The Medina Lake Cajun Festival will be Saturday, Sept. 26, (always the fourth Saturday of September!), from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Lakehills Community Center, 11224 PR 37, Lakehills — just 30 miles northwest of San Antonio.
Admission is $15 adults, and children 10 and under are free. Food prices are still incredibly low and competitive.
Every ticket purchased helps support the Lakehills Community Center, a nonprofit organization serving the community year-round with senior and youth programs. Volunteers are needed. If you wish to volunteer, please call Barbara at 830-460-0600. It’s a fun and terrific way to help the community and volunteers get free access to the Cajun Festival.
Bring your friends. Dance all day. Make memories.
The Medina Lake Cajun Festival isn't just an event—it's a Hill Country tradition that's been bringing people together for 45 unforgettable years.
For advance tickets and event information, such as parking, rules, food, and fun, visit www.CajunFestival-MedinaLake.com or call 830-460-0600. Tickets may also be purchased locally, at the Cutaway Salon, located at 9650 FM 1283 in Lakehills.