ELGIN – The 18th annual Crawds ’n Rods festival, benefiting the Elgin Volunteer Fire Department, will be held in downtown Elgin on Saturday, May 14.
Considered the best crawfish boil and car show in southwest Oklahoma and North Texas, Crawds ’n Rods began nearly two decades ago as an event and festival geared towards the citizens of Elgin.
Elgin Fire Chief Mike Baker said when it started the fire department was looking to start a fire prevention program. The city was asked to provide promotional items to pass out to school children, but they learned the city did not do that.
“So, we decided to come up with some kind of event for the whole community,” Baker told Southwest Chronicle. “We didn’t want to do a barbecue, so one of the firemen came up with the idea of a crawfish boil.”
After a few years the car show and burnout competition was added, and the city event grew into today’s Crawds ’n Rods festival.
When asked what will be happening this year compared to years prior Baker said, “the same thing.”
“We’re still raising money for fire prevention,” he said. “We like to go to the school and hand out goodies.” That includes cool toys, robots and “things that get their attention.” Each year, approximately $10,000 is spent on these fire prevention items, thanks to money raised via Crawds ’n Rods
Crawds ’n Rods “has grown into an event for the whole community,” Baker said. “The carnival and the live music, the all-you-can-eat crawfish and burgers. There will be 30 vendors.” For a flat $25, folks can eat all the fresh Louisiana crawfish they can muster. There will also be hot dogs and hamburgers for sale as well.
As for the live music, prior event favorites Garagemaholics are playing, as is the rootsy rock of The Kat Pratt Band, a southwest Oklahoma band, which covers a lot of songs and have originals like “Centimeter Peter” and “Mr. Devil Man.” Baker said there may be a couple of other bands playing as well.
There will be a carnival provided by Oklahoma-based Sam’s Amusements Carnival. It is open Thursday and Friday night and all day Saturday.
“We do make quite a bit of money through the carnival,” Baker said.
As for the car show, for $25 registration, Crawds ’n Rods will award those chose for the following categories: Best In Show; Best Paint; Best Interior and Best Engine. There will be first and second place trophies awarded to cars featured in 29 different classes, as well.
While there has been a poker run in the past, there will not be one scheduled until the event in 2023.
In the past they have had a vehicle giveaway, including three custom motorcycles and three Ford roadsters. More recently they have given away two Chevrolet C-10 pickups, a 2018 Chevrolet Z71, and a ZZL1 Camaro. This year a C-10 will be given away to a lucky winner.
For tickets and information, go to www.crawdsnrods.com or call Elgin City Hall at (580) 492-5777.