The good times will soon roll again for downtown Conroe’s biggest party.Â
The annual Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival is set for Oct. 13-15 on the downtown square. The 2023 edition of the festival promises all the live music, Cajun food, vendors and entertainment that fans have come to know and love for the past 30-plus years.
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Here’s what to know if you are planning to go:Â
What is it?Â
The nonprofit group the Friends of Conroe puts on the event every year. Proceeds from the event support student scholarships and the annual Friends Feeding Friends Thanksgiving meal.Â
Inspired by Cajun music and the common desire to bring a festival to downtown Conroe, the 15 founding members first came together in 1990 to organize the first Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival. Co-founder Charles Tullos said it all began when he and Sandra Walker were talking. They were reminiscing about when the Lions Club Carnival took place on the downtown square in the 1950s and 1960s.Â
The first festival was held in mid-November in 1990. Since then, the festival has grown to estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people.
In 1995, the 74th state Legislature designated the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival as the official Cajun Catfish Festival of the state of Texas.
What are the days and hours?Â
In recent years, the carnival area has been open on Thursday night prior to the opening of the festival on Friday night. Carnival night is from 6 to 11 p.m. Oct. 12. There will not be a charge to get in the carnival area at Texas 105 and Frazier Street for this night. Patrons will only pay for ride tickets.
Festival hours are Oct. 13 from 6 p.m. to midnight, Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from noon to 11 p.m. Arm band prices for the carnival are $25 Oct. 12, $30 Oct. 12 and $35 for Oct. 14-15.Â
Who is performing?Â
The festival has two performance stages — the DeMontrond Stage with a country flair and the Cajun stage for Cajun and Zydeco music.Â
On Oct. 13, the DeMontrond Stage brings Coffey Anderson from 9 to 10 p.m. and Randall King from 10:30 p.m. to midnight. Also on Oct. 13, on the Cajun Stage, Platinum Players take the stage from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Bayou Roux continues its tradition of playing Friday night on the Cajun Stage from 10 p.m. to midnight.Â
On Oct. 14, the DeMontrond Stage Saturday, music kicks off at 6 p.m. with Texas Flood, a Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute group. From 8 to 9:30 p.m. brings Whitey Morgan and The 78s. Blackberry Smoke is the headliner from 10 to 11:30 p.m. Blackberry Smoke is an American rock band formed in Atlanta in 2000.
The Cajun Stage Oct. 14 brings Keyun & Zydeco Masters from 2 to 4 p.m., Brian Jack from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wayne Toups and Zydecajun from 8 to 9:30 p.m. and headliner Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie from 10 p.m. to midnight.Â
On Oct. 15, Hispanic Family Day returns to the festival after launching in 2022. The carnival opens at noon Oct. 15 and music is from 2 to 11 p.m.Â
The featured band for Hispanic Family Day is De Parranda. Tickets are available online for $25 for Hispanic Family Day.
How to purchase food and drinksÂ
Catfish Credits are the only form of payment accepted for food and beverages at the 2023 Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival.
Catfish Credits store your credits for an easy payment process. There are designated refill stations where you can purchase a card and add credits at the event. Cash and credit cards will not be accepted by any food and beverage vendors. However, cash, credit and debit cards are accepted when adding credits to Catfish Credits.
See more about the Catfish Credits process on the festival website.Â
How to goÂ
Tickets are available online throughout the festival. Admission for children age 12 and younger is free. Presale tickets online are $15 or $30 for a weekend pass. Tickets at the gate are $20 for general admission.Â
