Last weekend, I went to the Rosewood Crawfish Festival at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds. I’ve never had crawfish before. I figured there would be some dishes for sale that would have crawfish in them so I could try it. You know, expand my horizons.
Food
Crawfish
Upon entering the festival, I realized that while there was a lot of food for sale, to try any crawfish, I’d have to get a $20 plate, the contents of which were a mystery. So I figured it’s gonna be a meal – if I don’t like crawfish, there will be something else in here to eat, right? Rice? A side? NOPE. Just a big ole mess of crawfish (plus a wee little potato and a short piece of corn on the cob.)
I found a place to eat, stared at my food in the eyes for a minute, then got to cracking. They don’t give you any utensils, so you have to use your hands.
If you haven’t eaten crawfish before, they are small, fresh-water lobsters. So the meat is primarily in the tail and maybe a little in the claws that are big enough to break open. Count on about a shrimp’s worth of meat per crawfish. It’s a lot of effort for so little, but it’s definitely fun! A little gross, but mostly fun. Afterward, you’ll definitely need to wash your hands and maybe even your face. There are two handwashing stations near where the crawfish plates are handed out and an inside bathroom directly across the way. Otherwise, there were about a million hand sanitizer stations everywhere.
Other Food
I found I was still a little hungry after my plate of crawfish, so I got a lemonade and some fries. Add a dessert to that, and I think you’d have just about the perfect Rosewood Crawfish Festival meal.
I got my food at a purple food truck with fresh-squeezed lemonade on one side and food on the other. I’m not sure what the truck is called, but it was terrific! I got a delicious mango lemonade for $5 while I waited in the long food line. Then I mentioned that I wanted to try the alligator bites, but it was too much food. So they gave me two to try with my fries! I think that was really nice of them. (And I’m glad I didn’t get a whole basket – they are a bit chewy. But you can tell they were fresh.)
Other food available is chicken tenders, turkey legs, gyros, and the normal “fair food” you might usually find at these events. I also saw a tent with Mexican food (I think they listed arepas on the menu) and a small BBQ trailer. I’m sure I also saw a truck for funnel cakes and frozen chocolate-dipped key lime pie (because I considered those.) Fresh lemonade is everywhere, and shaved ice and Italian ice. (But no proper ice cream, as far as I could tell.)
There’s plenty of beer available. But first, make sure to get a wristband from the people that check your ID when you come in.
Music
Both times I sat down with food, I did so in front of the music stage at the back of the festival. I only saw the first two acts but had I stuck around, I could have seen Drivin N Cryin! (I can’t say I’m too sad about missing them.) The music is about the only thing included in your ticket, which is a pretty good deal.
My only complaint is that they took a long break between acts. Even eating a whole mess of crawfish, standing in a long line for more food, a bathroom break, and circling the festival several times, I only got to hear one act most of the way through and only the start of the next. There is NO shade, and the heat radiates off the blacktop, so it’s boiling hot waiting around long for the music to start. The smart people brought their own chairs and set them up under the few available trees.
Rides
There is an area to one side of the festival with six rides – twirling strawberries, swings, an inflatable slide, a bouncy house, a round-up, and a mirror maze. Most of these are for small kids. Older kids can go on the round-up, and I saw a few college boys go through the funhouse maze with beers in hand…
For adults, there was one axe-throwing trailer, with two lanes on each side. I never saw anyone in it, however. (Aside from the guy working it.)
Crafts/Shopping
I thought there’d be a lot more on the arts & crafts front. Maybe there weren’t as many due to Covid, and some were off in weird corners. Most are lined up on the left, right as you walk in. I didn’t see too much of interest except some fun African jewelry, but I noticed some UofSC stuff for sale, baskets, candles, all that sort of thing.
Most years, there is also a race involved – the Crawdaddy Dash. It will return in 2022.
Tickets/Cost
Tickets ahead of time were $10, or $12 at the door. But I ended up spending over $40 in the end – $10 for the ticket, $5 for parking, $20 for a crawfish plate, $5 for lemonade, and $4 for fries.
Overall, it was really great! I basically went for lunch and then left. Had it been cooler (or I smarter) it would have been nice to stick around for more live music. It’s been so nice to see live entertainment again! I’m not sure I’m converted to a devoted crawfish either, but I feel like I know how to handle myself if I were face to face with one again.
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