Heads or Tails, Crawffish Festival Champions
The annual Crawfish Festival is an energetic celebration that showcases our community spirit. Every year this event brings together locals and visitors alike for a weekend filled with food, fun, and festivities. One of the highlights of the festival is the crawfish cook-off, which features 40 teams competing for the title of the best crawfish dish.
Participants showcase their unique recipes and cooking techniques, drawing in crowds eager to sample the assorted offerings. The cook-off not only emphasizes the skill and creativity of the crews but also fosters a sense of camaraderie among the teams. In addition to the culinary competition, the festival typically includes music, horseshoe tournament, crawfish eating contest, and local vendors, making it a perfect outing for all ages.
The Kids Fishing Tournament and Kite Flying contest will be held on Saturday, May 24th at King Fisher Beach. Thankful to have our sponsors again this year, POC Rod & Gun and GBRA. Fishing will begin at 8 with bait provided by the Fishing Center Operations. At 11 awards will be presented for the largest fish, the smallest fish and the most fish. There are three different age brackets, ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. It is always a great time seeing the kid’s excitement when they catch the big one.
Plan on joining us for our annual Fourth of July Parade which will start at 9:00 am that Friday in front of the library. The parade is a exciting celebration of American independence, showcasing a colorful and lively procession that captures the spirit of the holiday. Bring your vintage classic, golf cart, trailer, or motorcycle and adorn with flags and streamers.
Saturday, July 5th will be our annual fourth of July fireworks show. We depend on donations to provide a professional pyrotechnic show and this year we expect it to cost more than $35,000. This event always draws crowds from across the region and benefits many of our local businesses. If you would like to donate you can do so by visiting our website or dropping your extra change into one of the boxes located at several businesses in town.
We appreciate our new and renewing members Riptide Towing and Recovery – Is a 24 hour service with vehicle storage facility. The provide lock outs, pull outs, long & short distance tows, flat tire changes and battery charges. Saltgrass Boatworks specializes in boat detailing and ceramic coating. POCTX and Corvette Correction.
For more information on these businesses and our other chamber members please visit our website at www.portoconnorchamber.com.
13th Annual POC Crawfish Fest & Cookoff:
A Day of Cajun Celebration Despite a touch of rain earlier in the week, nothing could dampen the vibrant spirit at this year’s POC Crawfish Festival! Attendees reveled in a perfect day at the park, filled with mouth-watering crawfish, Cajun delicacies, ice-cold beer, lively dancing, and a colorful array of food and craft vendors.
The culinary competition heated up with excitement as teams competed in the Crawfish Cook-Off. Team Heads or Tails boiled their way to victory, earning the Champion Boiled Crawfish title! Pinchin Tails took 2nd place, with Boiled Money securing 3rd. The Best Side Dish awards delighted taste buds, with Team Pinche’ claiming 1st for their innovative sourdough bread bowl crawfish dip, In A Pinch earning 2nd for their creamy crawfish fettuccine, and It Ain’t Gonna Suck Itself taking 3rd for their bold Cajun crawfish pasta.
The Bloody Mary Contest showcased creativity and flavor. Let the Good Times Boil won Best Presentation, while Claw Me Daddy stirred up the Best Tasting Bloody Mary. Let the Good Times Boil also snagged the Best Decorated Booth award for their festive setup. Festival-goers had their say in the People’s Choice Award, which went to Team Heads or Tails for their crowd-pleasing crawfish.
While there are designated judges assigned to evaluate the Crawfish entries, event attendees are also given the chance to choose their preferred entry. The People’s Choice honor for this year was bestowed upon team Heads or Tails. This victorious team also earned a 10% payout, totaling prize money exceeding $3300.
The Crawfish Eating Contest, sponsored by POC Rod & Gun, saw fierce competition. Colton Anders devoured 1st place, followed by Ryan Lott in 2nd and Spencer Kloss in 3rd. The Horseshoe Tournament brought out the skills, with Joe Krenek & Dwayne Twoomey taking 1st and Team Heads or Tails claiming 2nd. Congratulations to all our winners!
The festival pulsed with Cajun rhythm and tunes, thanks to the sensational Boudreaux and Pousson duo from Rockport, whose Cajun music had everyone—even the crawfish—dancing! DJ Loco Motion, Mike Overton, Jr. kept the vibes flowing between sets. A huge shoutout to Scott Brown of Browns Boat Storage for orchestrating the stellar music and sound production. We’re grateful to our talented photographer, John Humbert, for capturing the day’s joy in stunning photos. Check them out on the POC Chamber of Commerce and POC Crawfish Fest and Cook-Off Facebook pages!
This year, we sold an astounding 3,200 lbs of crawfish plates, prepared by the exceptional Crawfish Croux team from POC. Their delicious crawfish earned rave reviews—some say they’d win the cook-off if they entered! Thank you for bringing such flavor to our festival.
Our deepest gratitude goes to our Judges, Volunteers, and Sponsors, whose tireless efforts make this event the Chamber’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Months of planning and dedication ensure everything runs smoothly, and we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for making this Cajun celebration unforgettable!
Mark your calendars for next year’s festival on April 25, 2026—always the last Saturday in April! Follow the POC Chamber of Commerce and POC Crawfish Fest and Cook-Off Facebook pages for photos, updates, and more. Until then, Laissez les bons temps rouler!
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!
Our festival’s success as a fundraiser for our non-profit organization relies on the incredible generosity of our sponsors and donors. Their support forms the foundation of our mission, enabling us to make a meaningful impact. With heartfelt gratitude, we proudly recognize the following sponsors for their invaluable contributions:
Please join us in congratulating Seadrift School’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, Kelly Lillge! After 30 years of experience, Ms. Lillge says that teaching and coaching is the most rewarding occupation she could ever have. The connection she has with her students is a gift. She hopes her students and the staff realize how valuable they are, and that they do have an impact on all those around them, including her! A day in the life of “coaching” consists of smiles, love, and hugs. She says it’s an honor to work with her students and fellow educators in Seadrift.
Seadrift School is proud to recognize Jill Goode, our wonderful school nurse, as our 2025 Dedication to Education award recipient.
Please join us in congratulating Sheryl Haynes, 2025 Port O’Connor Elementary Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Haynes is a third grade, self contained teacher, which means she teaches all subjects and social skills. After 27 years in the classroom, she has learned that every student has a special gift, regardless of their abilities or home environment. She loves working with her amazing students, prays daily to make a difference in their lives, and strives to help them feel their worth.
Please join us in congratulating Rachael McCabe, our 2025 Port O’Connor Elementary Dedication to Education Award recipient! Mrs. McCabe is a Special Education Paraprofessional in her first year with CCISD. She has always loved working with children, and realizes that being a part of a student’s educational growth is her true calling. She enjoys seeing her students overcome their obstacles and reach their goals. This has inspired her to continue her career in education, as she is working towards a degree in Educational Studies. Rachael strives to be a positive and upbeat influence on her students and her fellow staff.
