The 7th Annual Crawfish Critic Cookoff and Festival is set to take place at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds this Memorial Day weekend. The event is expected to attract thousands of visitors and feature over 100 cooking teams competing in a vibrant Cajun food contest.
The two-day event, taking place on Friday and Saturday, will showcase the Southern Cajun Cookoff Association’s World Championship, complemented by what organizers are dubbing a “SuperBoil” featuring competitions in crawfish, gumbo, and jambalaya.
Anticipation builds as organizers prepare for an influx of more than 20,000 attendees, signaling notable growth compared to past events. In 2025, the festival was confined to a parking lot at the fairgrounds. This year, the entire venue will be utilized.
“The festival has always been the dream,” stated Conroe resident Christian Waldo, who is recognized in the community as the Crawfish Critic. “The aspiration to bring this event to the fairgrounds has been a long-standing goal.”
Waldo has established a Facebook group focused on reviewing crawfish locations throughout Montgomery County. The group has experienced significant growth, now boasting over 50,000 members. The festival, which began in 2020 as an extension of the online community, has grown annually since its inception.
The event additionally functions as the championship for the Southern Cajun Cookoff Association, which was co-founded by Waldo and social media chef Stalekracker. The association hosts competitive Cajun cooking events that mirror the structure of traditional barbecue competitions.
“We identified a demand for such events and considered whether we could replicate the success of barbecue with Cajun cuisine,” Waldo stated.
In the upcoming championship, over 100 teams, including both professional chefs and passionate amateurs, will compete for points and accolades.
The festival is set to showcase appearances and demonstrations by Stalekracker and content creator Wade Fishez during a creator cookoff on Friday night.
Alongside food competitions, the event will feature live music, a dedicated kids' zone, various vendors, and an exciting crawfish-eating contest. Organizers have announced that the setup will give attendees direct access to teams and creators.
“A genuine experience prioritizing fans, allowing attendees to explore the grounds, interact with teams and creators, and witness the largest crawfish competition in the South up close,” the event description reads.
The festival will operate from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday. General admission for the crawfish tasting event is $55, while VIP weekend packages begin at $165. Parking passes are available for $7.50.
Organizers have announced that the upcoming event highlights the increasing popularity of Cajun food culture in Southeast Texas. The initiative seeks to establish Conroe as a key destination for regional food festivals.
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