Conroe Catfish Festival Canceled Indefinitely

Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival Will Not Return, Friends of Conroe Confirm Permanent Cancellation

The Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival, a downtown Conroe tradition for over three decades, will not be returning, with organizers confirming there are no plans for the event to be held in 2025 or any subsequent years. The Friends of Conroe, the non-profit organization responsible for producing the festival since 1990, cited significant financial losses as the primary reason for its permanent discontinuation.

Craig Jones, President of the Friends of Conroe, recently confirmed the decision, stating that producing the annual event is no longer financially viable for the organization. The festival sustained a substantial loss of $200,000 in 2022, followed by another “significant six-figure loss” in 2023.

Several factors have contributed to the festival’s financial struggles in recent years. Attendance has significantly declined from its peak years of 50,000 to 60,000 visitors, dropping to an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 in its more recent iterations. Operational costs have also surged dramatically across various aspects, including talent booking and essential sanitation services. Additionally, the organization faced increasing difficulties securing sufficient volunteers, a critical component for an event of this scale. Recurring weather challenges, such as unexpected cold fronts and rain during its traditional second weekend of October timeframe, also frequently impacted attendance and revenue.

Beyond its role as a cultural event bringing music and food to the city, the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival served as a critical annual fundraiser for the Friends of Conroe. The proceeds from the festival enabled the non-profit to distribute approximately $100,000 annually to various local charitable organizations. The festival’s permanent cancellation represents a significant blow to the Conroe community and the many local non-profits that relied on this vital stream of support.