Popular NJ Crawfish Festival Plans Comeback After COVID-19

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ — COVID-19 sidelined Michael Arnone’s yearly Crawfish Fest at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in 2020 and 2021, but the 31st annual event is scheduled for a comeback from June 3 to 5.

Arnone, who lives in Louisiana, told Patch during a phone interview on Wednesday that speaking about the annual festival — which he organized the first in 1989 for 70 Louisiana expats who were living and working in the tristate area — makes the return feel closer to reality.

“We’ve been planning for it all along,” Arnone said of the process, with talent, eateries and the Sussex County Fairgrounds booked.

Traditionally held the weekend after Memorial Day, Arnone said the Fairgrounds had saved the date for the popular festival. Arnone has remained in touch with local and state health officials, receiving guidance and guidelines to move plans forward, he said.

“We were hoping it [COVID-19] would all go away,” he said. “We’re going to have a great homecoming.”

Attendees can look forward to a lineup of musical entertainment, Louisiana-style cuisine, crafters and camping for those who would like to stay onsite during the three-day event.

Tickets purchased for past festivals that were postponed because of COVID-19 will be honored for the 2022 event, according to the event website.

The festival was postponed and then canceled twice because of COVID-19. In April 2020, it was originally moved to the weekend of August 21 through 23. In July 2020, the festival was postponed until 2021, because of the state's limits on large gatherings. Tickets for the 2021 festival went on sale in April 2021 for the end of August 2021 — with plans to also honor 2020 tickets — Arnone announcing the second cancellation on Aug. 7, this time because of watching COVID-19 case numbers rise in Louisiana and throughout the country.

Though outdoors, the family-friendly food and music festival had an atmosphere in pre-COVID-19 days that generated close contact among attendees.

“We couldn’t have a super spreader event,” Arnone said about the decision to postpone the 2021 event.

Arnone said attendees can stay tuned for event updates for the June festival at the Crawfish Fest’s website here and Facebook page here.

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