7th-annual festival celebrates Louisiana crawfish season
A family friendly seafood festival celebrating Louisiana’s unique delicacy comes once again to the shores of Lake Pontchartrain just in time for Louisiana Crawfish Awareness Month. The seventh-annual Pinch A Palooza Festival, presented by Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants, takes place 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sun., April 17 at Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant in Bucktown, 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie. Admission is free. Information is available at Pinchapalooza.com.
This year’s Pinch A Palooza features seven bands, the seventh-annual Pinch A Palooza Crawfish Eating Contest, crawfish races and games for the kids, an art market and Deanie’s crawfish specialties, including crawfish nachos, crawfish balls, fried crawfish tails, and thousands of pounds of fresh boiled Louisiana Crawfish served with corn and potatoes.
The lineup includes Zydeco band Chansons et Soûlard, aka “The Wandering Cajun;” local alternative band Paris Avenue; country, Blues and Rock n’ Roll band Shot Time; and local favorites Imaginary Frenz, Vince Vance & The Valiants and Karma. Also returning are The 610 Stompers and Big Chief Romeo Bougerie and the 9th Ward Hunters.
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Pinch A Palooza Crawfish Eating Contest
The Zagat-rated Deanie’s Seafood will crown the champion of the Pinch A Palooza Crawfish Eating Contest following two heats of competitors and a championship round. Go to Pinchapalooza.com to register to compete in the Pinch A Palooza Crawfish Eating Contest. Each competitor will receive a Pinch A Palooza T-shirt and a Deanie’s koozie. Registration is $20. The Pinch A Palooza champion will receive a Deanie’s Seafood crawfish boil for 20 people, and other great prizes will be awarded.
BECOME A SPONSOR OF Pinch A Palooza 2016
Deanie’s Seafood is seeking sponsors to help deliver and grow this free family-friendly seafood and music festival. Download our Pinch A Palooza 2016 Sponsorship Kit to learn more about the benefits of joining us as a Pinch A Palooza Sponsor.
Pinch A Palooza Festival Now in its 7th Year
Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants & Seafood Market introduced Pinch A Palooza in 2010 in celebration of Louisiana crawfish and New Orleans music and culture. Typically held at the start of New Orleans’ festival season the weekend between French Quarter Festival and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Deanie’s Seafood’s Pinch A Palooza fest draws nearly 5,000 people to the the fishing village of Bucktown to get their crawfish fix during the peak of Crawfish Season, which runs from February through June.
April is Louisiana Crawfish Awareness Month
Deanie’s Seafood–one of the first restaurants in the Greater New Orleans region to serve boiled seafood–sought a resolution to raise awareness about the importance of the 
crawfish industry, recognize the fishermen of Louisiana and celebrate Louisiana’s Cajun French heritage. The resolution naming April “Louisiana Crawfish Awareness Month” was sponsored by State Rep. Nick Lorusso, R-New Orleans, and signed and enrolled on April 15, 2015.
“Crawfish and seafood have a strong economic and cultural role in the lives of Louisianans, and this role is typified by family owned restaurants in Louisiana, such as Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants and Seafood Market, where Louisiana’s culture of strong family and community ties combines with culinary heritage and traditions,” the resolution reads. Read the full resolution here.
Deanie’s Bucktown Philanthropic Trust Contributes to Local Groups
The Bucktown Philanthropic Trust was established by Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants to support local children’s causes and celebrate Bucktown’s heritage and culture. Beneficiaries of Deanie’s Pinch A Palooza Festival include St. Louis King of France Parish, which has served the Bucktown community for over 60 years, and Angels’ Place, a charity for families with children diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
Follow Pinch A Palooza 2016
Save the Date and stay tuned for more on Deanie’s Seafood’s Pinch A Palooza Festival 2016 by following hashtag #Pinchapalooza @DeaniesSeafood on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinchapalooza.com and Deanies.com.