Life is fun on the beach at Holly Beach, The Cajun Riviera, and that was never so evident as this weekend when the 1st Annual Holly Beach Crab Fest was held.

The festival, organized by coordinators, Steve and Darla Faul, featured free live entertainment, a free boiled crab dinner and brunch, free activities for the kids, including face painting, bouncy superslide, crab races and more.

The festival offered a great reunion of friends and residents enjoying music, dancing, great food and good times!

The Crab Cook-off Contest had 15 entries and the following winners were announced:

1st place – Keith Mignez, Stuffed Crab

2nd place – Todd and Terry Dartez, “The Other White Meat”.

3rd place – Team Ring of Fire, Crab Meat and Gratin Pasta.

Sharon Allen coordinated the Crab Cook-off Contest. Judges were Rod Laseter, Clint Allen, and Cynthia Nobles.

Nobles is Cookbook Editor for LSU Press and has authored/co-authored five cookbooks.

Richard Meaux ran crab traps fresh from the bayou and provided 700 crabs for the festival. The Crab Festival was dedicated in honor of his parents, Sonny and Loretta Meaux, owners/operators of Meaux’s Seafood, founded in 1993.

The Meauxs were presented with an honorary “key to the city.”

Live entertainment included Get Right Ramblers, Barry Badon, Beau Rivers, and Cajun Beat Band.

There were many sponsors and volunteers who joined together to help make this endeavor a success and the Fauls have indicated that plans are being made already for next year’s event.