Catfish Festival will feature live music and southern, Cajun food

Event kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday, runs until midnight on Front Street

The first Texarkana Cajun Catfish Festival promises plenty of food and fun July 1-2 on Front Street downtown.

The free event will feature southern fried catfish and Cajun cuisine from a variety of vendors including CK BBQ, Scottie's Grill, Los Ruvalcaba, Masala, City Belle's, Mother Kelly's, Twin City Sports Bar and Grill, Cardinal Performance and Iverson Cajun Foods.

Blues and rhythm-and-blues bands will provide live music, and Elvis Presley tribute artist Josh Davis will perform July 2, sponsored by Copeland's restaurant in Texarkana.

Other entertainment includes Bruce Manners, a comedian and juggler from Houston, who will bring a blend of stand-up comedy, audience participation and outrageous stunts.

Arts and crafts vendors and local entrepreneurs will be there selling their wares, and a "kid zone" will offer children games and prizes, face painting, jump houses, wall-climbing and more.

The festival was organized by Diva Maintenance, which in April produced the Front Street Food Fest downtown. That event brought almost 20 food trucks together for visitors to enjoy.

"The Catfish Festival is like the food truck festival, but there's much more," organizer Tameka Grady said. "We're hoping to do it annually."

The festival's hours are 5 p.m. to midnight July 1 and noon to 11 p.m. July 2. For more information, visit frontstreetfoodfest.com.

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