Nicholls State University’s Student Programming Association hosted their 52nd annual Crawfish Day on Thursday, April 16, despite early rain.

Crawfish Day, one of Nicholls’ largest on-campus events, invites students, faculty and staff to enjoy free food, games and entertainment. This year’s festival offered live music both inside and outside of the festival, snowball stands and a Ferris wheel.

Plates of boiled crawfish, the festival’s namesake, were prepared by Heads and Tails Crawfish Catering. Approximately 4,300 pounds of crawfish were boiled for the festival.

Attendees not only get authentic Louisiana crawfish during the event, but also a taste of how Thibodaux’s roots in Cajun culture make the Colonel experience a unique one.

“Crawfish Day incorporates our Cajun culture with college life,” said SPA President Tai Battle. “A lot of students who aren’t from here get to experience crawfish, get to experience snowballs—the things that make us Louisiana.”

This year’s Crawfish Day theme, “Crawfish in the Clouds,” came to life after conversations about offering a Ferris wheel alongside the festivities, an attraction both entertaining and unique to this year’s celebration, according to SPA Traditional Events Officer Myla Johnson.

Madelyn Chatelain, a sophomore culinary arts student, stated that her favorite part of Crawfish Day was “seeing everyone let loose and let all their stress out” before the end of the semester.

To many students, Crawfish Day is an opportunity to catch up with peers and enjoy good food as the school year ends. Even though finals may be drawing nearer, Colonels can still let the good times roll.

“Crawfish Day brings everybody together in the community,” said senior history student Jaiden Valure. “Everyone’s here, even people you usually don’t see. We’re just all having fun, enjoying crawfish and celebrating Nicholls.”