Chickamauga hosts first annual crawfish festival

CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. (WDEF) – The City of Chickamauga hosted its first-ever Chickamauga Crawfish Festival as students also shared their thoughts on splitting access to the historic Gordon-Lee Mansion grounds for prom photos.

The festival was hosted at Crawfish Springs, drawing large crowds for a day of food, drinks, live music, and plenty of crawfish.

Community members gathered throughout the day to enjoy the festivities as vendors served up seafood and local businesses welcomed visitors.

Quince Williams, co-owner of Pinch and Pull Seafood, said the turnout exceeded expectations.

“The turnout has been great. We had over 600, almost 700 pounds, and at this point we are already sold out,” Williams said.

Residents say they were pleased to see the city host a new community event.

“We live here locally in Chickamauga, and I am very pleased with the turnout,” said community member Justin Foster.

Vendors also said they hope the festival becomes a yearly tradition because of the support it brought to local businesses.

“We expected a good day. We did not expect an amazing day. Everybody has been wonderful and very patient. We are working to get more product before the end of the festival, but it has been awesome,” said vendor Sawyer Brown.

The festival was held on the same evening as local high school proms, leading to some discussion among students and families.

Students from Gordon Lee High School traditionally use the grounds of the historic Gordon-Lee Mansion for prom photos.

Sawyer Brown, a high school senior, said he appreciated that accommodations were made.

“I don’t really care because they specifically blocked off parking for us, and them selling crawfish stops at a certain point, so we could still go to the mansion to take pictures. So as long as the fact that we should be able to go to the mansion, to take pictures, I’m fine then,” Brown said.

A recent graduate, Kaitlyn Hamlett, tells us she already had her senior prom and was able to have the full experience.

However, she says this change may bring stress for others.

“I feel like that could be very stressful if people have had this day planned out for months, and now that this is kind of interfering with their plans just because it’s kind of routine, I guess, at this point.”

A city council member told News 12 the festival dates were approved during a previous meeting, and steps were taken to make sure both events could happen successfully.

Organizers say they hope the strong turnout for the first festival leads to many more celebrations in the years ahead.