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Music that moves you
Two-step, waltz and let loose to a day full of Cajun and Zydeco rhythms.
Feel the rhythmLaissez les bons temps rouler
A whole lot of Louisiana
in the ♥ of Texas
Born in 1981 as the Great Gumbo Cook-Off, the Medina Lake Cajun Festival has grown into a beloved celebration of Louisiana music, food and culture in the Texas Hill Country.
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Flavor worth the drive
Sample competition gumbo and homemade Cajun favorites prepared on the festival grounds.
Taste the festival03
Hill Country hospitality
Bring the whole krewe for a friendly, relaxed celebration under the Texas sky.
Plan your visit45 years of smiles, spice and dancing
Festival Gallery
Flip through moments from the cook-off, food booths, music stages and shady festival grounds.
Open the full gallery
2026 Headliner
Josh Huval and The OST Ramblers
Dance all day View lineup
The sound of the bayou
Fiddles, accordions
and dancing shoes
From the first note to the final encore, the festival stage keeps the good times rolling.
Enjoy Cajun and Zydeco bands on the covered Fais Do-Do Pavilion and outdoor Gazebo Stage, each with room to dance.
Pass a good time
Bring your appetite
Cajun cooking is about more than a recipe. It is patience, spice, stories and a table with room for one more. Festival dishes are prepared on site by volunteer cooks with close attention to Cajun tradition.
Crawfish pie
Crawfish étouffée
Red beans & rice
Cajun meat pies
Fried shrimp & catfish
Boudin poppers
Your festival day
Easygoing from start to finish
Come on in
$15 admission; children 10 and under enter free.
Get a bowl
Food and drinks are purchased with festival tickets.
Find the beat
Two stages, covered seating and plenty of dance floor.
Explore more
Browse arts, crafts, souvenirs and kids' attractions.
Know before you geaux
Plan your festival visit
The 2026 Medina Lake Cajun Festival is a one-day, rain-or-shine celebration at the Lakehills Community Center. Come ready to eat, dance and stay awhile.
Location11225 Park Road 37, Lakehills
Date & timeSaturday, Sept. 26 · 10 AM–9 PM
Admission$15 · Ages 10 and under free
ParkingFree lots, shuttle & accessible parking
Festival gear
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What to bring
Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Seating is available, and guests may bring a portable folding chair.
Accessibility
The grounds accommodate wheelchairs and scooters, with accessible parking and facilities. Some areas are rocky or uneven.
Festival essentials
ATMs and lost-and-found are available. Free shuttle service runs from the Methodist Church satellite lot.
Please leave at home:
Pets except service animals
Outside food or drinks
Ice chests & glass containers
Alcohol
Firearms are prohibited by law.
No firearms are permitted on festival grounds, including all concealed handguns.
Founder
Bob Caswell
New Orleans spirit. Medina Lake legacy.
The man who started it all
A larger-than-life legacy
Bob Caswell brought the heart of New Orleans to Lakehills—and gave a community tradition the drive, vision and joyful spirit that still carries it forward.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Bob earned his law degree from Loyola University and was honored with a Man of the Year award in 1967. Throughout his legal career, he took great pride in serving his clients with ethics and integrity.
He maintained his larger-than-life spirit until the very end.
Bob moved to Lakehills, Texas, in 1980. The following year, he began the Great Gumbo Cook-Off as a spirited way to raise funds for the Lakehills Civic Center.
What started with gumbo, generosity and one determined founder quickly grew through Bob's drive and vision.
The Great Gumbo Cook-Off developed into the highly successful Medina Lake Cajun Festival, which celebrates its 45th year in 2026 and continues as a treasured Hill Country tradition.
Bob considered founding and serving the festival one of the great accomplishments of his life. He passed away in 2019, but his warmth, ambition and love of a good time remain woven into every celebration.
His vision started a cook-off.
His spirit built a tradition.
His spirit built a tradition.
Stay in the loop
More 2026 news is simmering
The date is set and the gumbo pots are ready. Ticket sales will be handled through the festival's Square checkout portal when online sales open.
Call (830) 460-0600
Open Ticket Portal
Contact the Festival
Enter the Gumbo Cook-Off
Interested in helping? Festival volunteers receive free admission plus tea and lemonade during their shift.