Sondra Hernandez Staff writer October 7, 2024

For the 35th year, the good times will roll in downtown Conroe this week with the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival. 

The annual event put on by the nonprofit Friends of Conroe takes place the second weekend in October. This year’s festival is set for Friday through Sunday with the carnival opening early Thursday night. 

Here’s everything festivalgoers need to know about this year’s event:

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What is the festival?

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. 

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. 

The first festival was held in mid-November in 1990. In 1995, the 74th state Legislature designated the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival as the official Cajun Catfish Festival of the state of Texas.

The festival’s quirky mascots are catfish named Willie B. Fried and Ima Good Catch. 

Festival music lineup

Josh Ward and William Clark Green are the headliners with returning favorites including Wayne Toups, Geno Delafose and Bayou Roux. 

There will be two stages for entertainment with one on North Thompson near the Owen Theatre and the other on Main Street near Texas 105. Devon Stevens, vice president of the Friends of Conroe, said the stage with Cajun acts will return to Main Street this year based on feedback from last year’s event. 

The stage previously known as the Texas Stage will be the Xfinity Comcast Stage this year. Friday’s music line up on this stage includes Matt Castillo, Jesse Raub Jr. and Josh Ward. Saturday brings Payton Riley, Payton Howie, The Wilder Blue, William Beckmann and William Clark Green. Sunday’s lineup is The Fab 5, Escape, Zach Jones and the 45’s and the Allie Rae Band. 

On the stage with Cajun music named the Wholesale Electric Eaton stage, the Friday lineup includes Double Trouble Zydeco, Geno Delafose and French Rockin Boogie. Saturday is Double Trouble Zydeco, Keyun and the Zydeco Masters, Wayne Toups and Bayou Roux. 

The Payton Riley Band, the Allie Rae Band and Zach Jones and the 45’s band were selected after the nonprofit’s Catfish Got Talent show at the Table at Madeley July 14. 

The Mr. and Mrs. Catfish Pageant will take place Sunday afternoon at the stage on Main Street. 

Featured food vendors 

This year’s food vendors include Ice Cream Creations, Roy’s Fresh Lemonade, Mardi Gras Cuisine, Lipsmackers Food Trucks, Fried Goodness, Pollywogs Cajun Persuasion, Lonestar Catering and Cravin Poor Boys. 

Food can be purchased at the festival with BlastPass food and beverage credits. These credits may be purchased on the catfish festival website. 

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What to know

The carnival with free admission is open 6-11 p.m. Thursday at the corner of Texas 105 and Texas 75. Music kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday. 

Festival hours are 6 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. A Hispanic Family Day is set for 2-11 p.m. Sunday. This requires a separate $25 ticket. 

Tickets to the festival can be purchased online. A full weekend ticket is $30. A one-day ticket is $20. Children age 12 and younger do not require a ticket. 

Shuttles will continue this year. Conroe Connections buses will pick festival visitors up from the Park and Ride spot under Interstate 45 at FM 2854 and drop them off at the festival. 

The shuttle rides are free and will operate Friday night and Saturday. Parking is not allowed in the Central Library parking lot. 

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