THE MUSIC! THE MADNESS! IT’S MUDBUG!

What began in 1984 as a two-day street festival in downtown Shreveport is now one of Louisiana’s largest and most popular Cajun festivals. It features country, pop, blues and the very best in zydeco music.

For the past 40 years, the Mudbug Festival has been held in downtown Shreveport and is coming back this year to extend its long run. To match its long run, it’s got a longer name, too.

Now it’s officially called the 41st Annual SWEPCO Mudbug Madness Festival, presented by Live! Casino Hotel Louisiana, powered by AEP/SWEPCO.

Well known for its food, entertainment and atmosphere, this year’s Mudbug Festival returns Memorial Day weekend, May 23 through 25. This year’s edition features its traditional enticements, but Executive Director Terri Matthews says some new things have also been added.

“We have over 30 bands [scheduled],” she said. “We have over 25 food and about 20 art tents. We also have the children’s area called Kids on the Bayou — lots of activities there. They have their own stage and entertainment. There will be hands-on art activities, bungee jumps and inflatables.”

This year’s lineup of entertainment and events can be found on the festival website at mudbugmadness.com.

Matthews hit some highlights: “Neil McCoy is our Sunday night headliner, so he’ll close out the festival. We’ve got Walker Montgomery, John Michael Montgomery’s son, on Saturday night. He’s got some new singles out, and he’s desperately good-looking. Friday night is Buckwheat Zydeco. So, we’ve got some great Cajun zydeco, country, and then over on the Swamp Stage, it’s just very eclectic. A lot of local and regional bands.”

Also featured on the Swamp Stage will be Latin Night, Sunday, May 25, from 6:30–10:30 p.m. Presented by 318 Latino, it will feature Latino bands Las Chicas Rolands and Los Primos NG, Matthews said.

Matthews admitted that 41 years is an impressive stretch for local festivals, but Mudbug adheres to a simple formula.

“The thing about Mudbug Madness is that if you have good weather, you have a successful festival. It’s got all of the sensory overload that you need.

“A couple of years ago, we added giant green spaces so you could play yard games and other things.

“It’s just like a big backyard crawfish boil, with great music, food and special events. We have the crawfish-eating contest, which is always fun. If you don’t participate, it will be a lot of fun to watch.

We have strolling entertainment this year. We’ve got Jim the Spoon Man. He does these complete shows playing the spoons. We’ve got Dallas the Fire Guy from New Orleans; he’s been here before. He juggles with fire and stuff like that.

“We try to program throughout the entire festival, so you’re entertained wherever you are.”

Matthews said one secret to Mudbug’s success is consistency. She explained that the layout is familiar year to year because the power needs of the various stages and food vendors require specific connections, but the rest of the event takes on a character of its own.

The crawfish-eating contest remains a popular event.

“So, you don’t really have to reinvent the wheel every time. You must mix it up every time, so it looks and feels new from the previous year.”

She said people will know what to expect but still get that sensory overload she mentioned. The festival will feature two performing stages featuring 30 bands, Kids on the Bayou Stage and activities, artisan booths, food vendors, crawfish eating contests, festival souvenirs, green spaces, a Latin night, and plenty of cold beverages and boiled crawfish.

The Delta Utilities Stage, presented by NBC 6 and Townsquare Media, will feature Buckwheat Zydeco, Dwayne Dopsie, Geno Delafose, Walker Montgomery and Neal McCoy. Other performers on that stage include Acadian Cajun Band, T’Monde, Corey Ledet, Swampland Revival, Parish County Line, Jimmy Breaux & Sons, Waylon Thibodeaux, Ryan Matthew Band and Palmer Anthony.

The FOX 33 Swamp Stage presented by Cumulus Radio will feature local bands such as Caravan, Rockin’ Redeyes and Pocket Change; regional performers Loosey Anna, Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs, The Sultans, Dirt Road Troubadours, Shane Pons and more.

Kids on the Bayou will feature magicians, dancers, music, hands-on activities, inflatables and a bungee jump.

Special events will include the popular Celebrity Crawfish Eating Contest at noon on opening day, featuring local on-air personalities and VIPs, the Men’s Crawfish Eating Contest Saturday at 1 p.m., the Crawfish Calling Contest Saturday at 4:15 p.m., and the Women’s Crawfish Eating Contest Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

This year, on Friday, there will be $5 lunch specials and Happy Hour $3 beverage prices from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Also returning is the Shiner Bock Beer Garden, which features Shiner products, bar tables and yard games. A second green space has been added to The Swamp, featuring picnic tables and yard games.

According to Matthews, another critical factor in Mudbug’s longevity is a lot of planning and a very strong core of volunteers who are committed to the event — that and keeping their eyes on the goal.

“For us, it’s staying on mission. Not try to deviate. Consistency in the people in the committee who put it on. We have some people who have to retire and go on; it’s all volunteer. We have enough consistency over a long period of time to stay on mission. If you bring in a lot of new people one year, you wipe out all the consistency, and you get off mission. We stay on mission, and that is to create a vibrant experience in downtown. We also never outprice ourselves. We want entire families to be able to come down and afford things. We’ve had to have subtle increases over the years to keep up with the expenses. We don’t sticker shock. Before we increase prices, we try to cut expenses, so we don’t have to pass too much on.”

That work has paid off. The little festival that could has gone from a two-day to a three-day event. It’s also nationally recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of its Top 20 Events and the American Bus Association’s Top 100 events in the nation.

So, mark your calendars. The Memorial Day weekend festival will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. Friday, there is no charge until 5 p.m. After 5 p.m. on Friday, admission is $10 through the remainder of the festival.

Free admission is offered to children under 10 and anyone with a military ID. A three-day pass is available at the gate for $15.

And, as you plan how you will remember our heroes this Memorial Day weekend, Mathews urges you to keep Festival Plaza in mind.

“Mudbug Madness touches all of one’s senses,” she said. “The sights, sounds and smells will be the perfect kick-off to summertime.”

MUDBUG MADNESS HEADLINERS

Parish County Line will be playing the Madness Stage Saturday, May 24, at 5 p.m.

Jim the Spoon Man will be a strolling entertainer.

Walker Montgomery is the headlining act Saturday, May 24 at 9:30 p.m.

Neal McCoy will close out the festival on May 25, 9 p.m.