Event brings beer, fun and crawfish to the Common
by Eric Johnson
Related Story: Mudbugs, 2011
If you were one of the 1,500 people who ventured out to the Augusta Common last year to experience the Mudbugabeaux-N-Brew, you don’t have to be told how hot the Common can get.
“It was brutal,” says event organizer Jim Beck, owner of French Market Grille West. “I had a bunch of fans out there, but this time I bought a couple of mister kits that I’m going to put up just in case.”
Following on the heels of the tropical storm named Beryl, which brought humid temperatures and rain to the CSRA, Beck hopes the Mudbugabeaux-N-Brew experiences the temperate calm after the storm.
This year’s festival will occur from 3-9.p.m. on Saturday, June 2. There’s a $5 charge to get in, and the first 1,000 to enter will receive a complimentary Mudbugabeaux-N-Brew T-shirt
The event, now in its fourth year, has always been at the Common, and while Beck says he’s toyed with the idea of moving it to Columbia County, he continues to remain loyal to the Common, which seems to fit the event just fine.
“We have a stage on one end and a pretty good sized tent for patrons to sit under,” he says. “Then we’ve got the tent that the craft beer is under.”
On the Reynolds Street side there will be mechanical rides for the kids and some pony rides from Wisteria Plantation, and though kids love pony rides, they also love food, and what kid wouldn’t love getting food served up on a Frisbee with a the mudbug logo on it?
For the adults, there’s quite a variety of things to indulge in beyond the craft beer, a must for any outdoor festival.
“We’ll do muffalettas, corn dogs, jambalaya and a crawfish boil,” he says. “The crawfish boil is the most popular.”
How popular is it?
“I’ve gotten rid of better than 1,200 pounds each year,” he says.
Beck got the mudbug bug back in 1992 when he took in a crawfish festival down in New Orleans, and ever since he wanted to bring something like that to Augusta. Four years ago he did, and Augusta’s summers haven’t been the same since.
Though other times of the year might not be quite so hot, the crawfish season runs from late January through Labor Day, which really leaves only a few dates left that can host such an event.
He has the crawfish, affectionately called mudbugs, trucked in from Louisiana in the weeks leading up to the event.
“We freeze them getting ready for the festival and I’ll have a good many down there live in a tub to let some of the patrons come by and see them,” he says.
They’re easy to eat, he says, but it takes a lot to make a good meal. In fact, he says people often buy them two or three pounds at a time.
But it’s not all food and beer and kiddie rides, however. Beasley Broadcasting is in charge of the additional vendors, and though Beck will be the only food vendor, there will be plenty of other fun to enjoy, including the bands, which were chosen to please.
Old Man Crazy, Back to Good, Electric Voodoo, Tom Brown and Son and Funk You are all expected to attend.
And if it’s hot like it was last year, don’t worry. He’s got the misters, and there’s more than enough beer to keep everyone cool.
The Fourth Annual Mudbugabeaux-N-Brew
The Augusta Common
Saturday, June 2
3-9 p.m.
$5
frenchmarketwest.comYou Might Also Like:
“We’ll do muffalettas, corn dogs, jambalaya and a crawfish boil,” he says. “The crawfish boil is the most popular.”
How popular is it?
“I’ve gotten rid of better than 1,200 pounds each year,” he says.
Beck got the mudbug bug back in 1992 when he took in a crawfish festival down in New Orleans, and ever since he wanted to bring something like that to Augusta. Four years ago he did, and Augusta’s summers haven’t been the same since.
Though other times of the year might not be quite so hot, the crawfish season runs from late January through Labor Day, which really leaves only a few dates left that can host such an event.
He has the crawfish, affectionately called mudbugs, trucked in from Louisiana in the weeks leading up to the event.
“We freeze them getting ready for the festival and I’ll have a good many down there live in a tub to let some of the patrons come by and see them,” he says.
They’re easy to eat, he says, but it takes a lot to make a good meal. In fact, he says people often buy them two or three pounds at a time.
But it’s not all food and beer and kiddie rides, however. Beasley Broadcasting is in charge of the additional vendors, and though Beck will be the only food vendor, there will be plenty of other fun to enjoy, including the bands, which were chosen to please.
Old Man Crazy, Back to Good, Electric Voodoo, Tom Brown and Son and Funk You are all expected to attend.
And if it’s hot like it was last year, don’t worry. He’s got the misters, and there’s more than enough beer to keep everyone cool.
The Fourth Annual Mudbugabeaux-N-Brew
The Augusta Common
Saturday, June 2
3-9 p.m.
$5
frenchmarketwest.comYou Might Also Like:
