Arts & Crabs Fest

Arts & Crabs Fest Brings Southwest Louisiana's Culinary Culture to the Forefront

Arts & Humanities Council of SWLA and the Lake Charles/SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau are proud to announce that the annual Arts & Crabs Fest will return on Saturday, August 17^th, 2013, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Civic Center's Exhibition Hall. Arts & Crabs Fest began in 2010 as a response to the BP oil spill, and it aims to celebrate the ties between Louisiana seafood and culture by offering a comprehensive experience of the best of Southwest Louisiana's culture, food, music, and art.

"Arts & Crabs Fest stresses the importance of investing in local products - local art, local music, local restaurants, and, of course, local seafood," stated Erica McCreedy, Arts Council Executive Director. "We want to bring tourists to our area and let them experience our greatest natural resources: our seafood and our culture."

For a $25 wristband, festivalgoers can access an extensive crab and beer tasting which will feature local restaurants each offering a crab dish that is representative of their cuisine's styles and personalities. Typical dishes will include crab cakes and crab au gratin to crab ceviche and crab gazpacho. Each crab dish will be paired with a complementary Abita beer sample which will include brews that are not often seen in restaurants, such as the Abbey Ale, S.O.S., and Strawberry Lager. Similar to a wine pairing, each Louisiana beer will complement each dish's unique flavors and textures.

Over a dozen Lake Area artists representing an entire spectrum of art mediums will be featured at the festival. The public can also expect artisanal vendors with handcrafted items from jewelry to Scentsy candles.

A limited number of wristbands will be sold, so be sure to purchase yours before the event sells out like last year! Wristbands can be purchased online at http://www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org/.

Proceeds from Arts & Crabs Fest benefit the Arts Council and its efforts to support and develop the arts in Southwest Louisiana. For more information on Arts & Crabs Fest, contact the Arts Council at (337) 439-2787 or visit them online at www.artsandhumanitiesswla.org.