The Ultimate 2025 Memphis Crawfish Festival Guide: 4 Must-Attend Events, Dates, And Locations
The Memphis spring festival season is officially set, and for fans of spicy, savory mudbugs, 2025 is shaping up to be an absolute feast. This year, the city isn't hosting just one major crawfish event, but a series of four distinct festivals and boils spread across April and May, culminating in a spectacular celebration of Cajun culture and Southern hospitality. From the massive, philanthropic Rajun Cajun event downtown to the more intimate neighborhood boils, this guide provides all the confirmed, current information you need to plan your 2025 crawfish calendar.
As of December 2025, the dates for the biggest crawfish events in the Mid-South have been finalized, with the 32nd annual Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival leading the charge. This multi-event schedule ensures that whether you're a Midtown local, a downtown enthusiast, or a suburban resident, you're never far from a mountain of fresh, perfectly seasoned Louisiana crawfish.
Confirmed 2025 Memphis Crawfish Festival Dates and Locations
The Memphis area kicks off its annual "crawfish season" with a series of highly-anticipated events, with the Rajun Cajun festival serving as the centerpiece. Here is your definitive list of the major crawfish festivals confirmed for Spring 2025:
- The Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival (Downtown Memphis): Sunday, April 27, 2025
- Memphis Farmers Market Annual Crawfish Festival: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
- Overton Square Crawfish Festival (Midtown Memphis): Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Blues for the Blue Crawfish & Blues Festival (Southaven/Silo Square): Saturday, May 17, 2025
1. Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival 2025: The Downtown Blockbuster
Widely considered the largest and most iconic crawfish event in the Mid-South, the Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival is a crucial date for any Memphis resident or visitor. This massive street party combines food, music, and philanthropy, drawing tens of thousands of attendees every year.
Event Details and Charitable Mission
The 32nd Annual Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival is scheduled for Sunday, April 27, 2025, from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. The event is generously presented by Valero and is held in the heart of Downtown Memphis along the scenic Riverside Drive, specifically between Jefferson and Union avenues.
What makes this festival a true Memphis staple is its charitable mission. The entire event is a major fundraiser for Porter-Leath, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing essential services for vulnerable children and families in the Memphis area. By simply attending and purchasing food and drinks, you are directly contributing to early childhood education and other critical programs, adding a layer of community impact to your culinary enjoyment.
The Full Cajun Experience: Food, Music, and Atmosphere
The Rajun Cajun festival is famous for its sheer volume of food. Attendees can expect to find thousands of pounds of fresh, authentic Louisiana crawfish, perfectly seasoned and ready to peel. Beyond the mudbugs, the festival offers a wide array of classic carnival food, local vendor specialties, and a selection of beverages, including craft beer and margaritas.
The atmosphere is electric, featuring multiple stages with live music from both nationally known and local award-winning artists, creating a true New Orleans-style block party on the banks of the Mississippi River. Best of all, entrance to the festival is free, making it an accessible event for everyone in the community.
2. The Midtown Crawfish Scene: Overton Square and Farmers Market
The Midtown area of Memphis offers two distinct, yet equally delicious, opportunities to get your crawfish fix just days apart, appealing to a slightly different crowd than the downtown spectacle.
Overton Square Crawfish Festival 2025
Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm for the Overton Square Crawfish Festival. This event takes place in the vibrant, eclectic setting of Overton Square, surrounded by Midtown's best restaurants and theaters. It promises a day full of mouthwatering crawfish, local artists, and live music, creating a more intimate, neighborhood-focused feel compared to the massive downtown event. It’s a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon, supporting local businesses and enjoying the unique charm of Midtown.
Memphis Farmers Market Annual Crawfish Festival
For a midweek crawfish fix, the Memphis Farmers Market steps up. The annual Crawfish Festival is slated for Tuesday, April 29, 2025. This event typically runs during the market's regular hours and features a dedicated boil sponsored by local experts like Glazes Crawfish. While smaller than the major weekend festivals, it offers a great opportunity to enjoy fresh crawfish alongside the best local produce, artisanal goods, and lawn games, providing a true taste of Memphis community life.
3. Blues for the Blue Crawfish & Blues Festival 2025: South of the Border
For those in the South Memphis metro area, including North Mississippi, the festival season extends into mid-May with a popular charity event that blends two Southern staples: crawfish and blues music.
The Blues for the Blue Crawfish & Blues Festival is confirmed for Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. This event is held just south of the state line at Silo Square in Southaven, Mississippi. True to its name, the festival features a full day of blues music performances alongside copious amounts of fresh, boiled crawfish. It’s a fantastic option for a longer, more relaxed festival experience that supports a good cause, often benefiting local law enforcement or community initiatives.
Planning Your 2025 Memphis Crawfish Season
With four major events spanning three weekends and a Tuesday, the Memphis crawfish season offers something for every taste and schedule. To maximize your experience, consider the following LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) entities and tips:
- Topical Authority Keywords: When discussing these events, remember to use local entities like Porter-Leath, Valero, Riverside Drive, Silo Square, and Glazes Crawfish to demonstrate expertise and relevance.
- Spring Festival Overlap: Be aware of other major Spring 2025 events, such as the RiverBeat Music Festival (May 2–4, 2025), which may impact traffic and hotel availability, especially downtown.
- What to Bring: While the Rajun Cajun festival is free to enter, bring cash or card for purchasing crawfish, craft beer, specialty drinks, and vendor items. Sunscreen and comfortable shoes are essential for a full day on the riverfront or in the square.
- Parking and Transportation: Downtown parking for the Rajun Cajun event can be challenging. Utilize ride-sharing services or plan to park in a downtown garage and walk to the Riverside Drive location. Midtown's Overton Square offers dedicated parking garages.
The 2025 crawfish festival lineup confirms Memphis's status as a major hub for Southern food and culture. Whether you’re peeling your first mudbug at the Rajun Cajun spectacle or enjoying the blues in Southaven, the Mid-South's spring culinary calendar is packed with flavor.
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