Page 33 - Waves June

awesome place where families and It’s also cool that any direction
friends can gather. Once a year, it you looked you saw two things: (1)
will be a weekend jam-packed with someone you know if you live on the
a Crawfish Cook-off, Cajun Cuisine, Island, and (2) someone dancing to
Cajun Music, and a great family the Cajun downbeats coming from
atmosphere. the stage. You cannot sit still at these
types of festivals.
Everything promised was certainly
delivered. We attended the Friday By the time Wayne hit the stage, the
opening of the festival with a group crowds were huge, but we never
of friends that love the sounds, taste felt “crowded” even standing in the
and smells of Louisiana splashed frontline of the stage. (There was
with Texas as much as we do. This this one really loud guy yelling and
event is appropriately named Cajun jumping around playing air-guitar like
Throwdown, and throwdown we did. it was his first time outside since the
80’s, but it was ok. He came with us.)
Upon getting through the gates, you Wayne Toups has always been one of
are greeted by the beer and booze my favorites and did not disappoint.
stands (you must buy drink tickets He proved, again, why he has legend
near the entrance), a huge, well- status.
equipped stage within earshot and
acres of food booths, including a Overall, this festival was a blast and
few food trucks for the non-seafood I am ecstatic that it’s an annual addi-
eaters. There was a generous amount tion to the Island. We went on Friday
of kids play areas setup with some which was a blast. I heard that Satur-
seriously fun contraptions. (I wanted day was double the crowds, tons of
to go play but my wife said they eating competitions and killer bands
don’t allow beer in the jumpy hous- day and night.
es). We set up our portable chairs (if
you know me, you know I do not sit The next one is scheduled for March
on the ground :) right in front of the 27-28, 2020. Tickets online are $25
stage. plus fees for Friday, $30 plus fees
for Saturday or $50 plus fees for the
From the very beginning of our visit, entire weekend. On the VIP side, the
the food flowed generously. I’m tickets are $100 plus fees for VIP for
talking boiled shrimp, boudin balls, Friday, $150 plus fees for VIP for
crawfish and anything fried you can Saturday and $200 plus fees for an
think of. Friday includes all you can entire VIP Weekend.
eat boiled shrimp and Saturday in-
cludes all you can eat crawfish with Get your tickets now at
the sides. There is an Oyster Bar www.btrcajunthrowdown.com.
onsite as well.
This will be on our list of events to
Before the headliner, Wayne Toups, attend every year. See ya there!
there were 3 other high energy,
Accordion and Saxophone driven Have pictures from the throw-
bands onstage. The sound system down that you want posted, send
was well set up, well mixed and a them to me directly at
comfortable volume. Security was cbergeron@wavesgalveston.com
heavy which is a good thing at any or post them on the Cajun Corner
major event and the food booths, page at www.wavesgalveston.com.
drink stations, and facilities (the
john) were a comfortable distance
from pretty much anywhere you
went.

Waves Magazine | June 2019 Issue | 33