Despite wind, people pile in to Ozark crawdad fest

OZARK - Harsh winds blew against the faces of hundreds of people who came for crawfish and entertainment at the Lower Alabama Crawdad Festival at Eagle Stadium on Saturday.
Across from crawdad boilers was Abbeville resident Troy Wilson, who guarded a fryer full of gator tail away from the breeze. Near there, Marley Mill Fire Department Lt. Noel Danner worked to keep the top bun on barbecue sandwiches the department prepared to raise money for equipment.
But nothing stopped 5-year-old Haley Jackson from doing everything possible to keep her bowl of crawfish from flying with napkins and sodas that swept past her table when a gust of wind almost knocked the bowl over.
“I love crawfish. It’s sweet, kinda hot. Momma eats ‘em too,” she said.
Most others did not let the wind phase them, either. Dan and Janice Denton said they came to Ozark from Dothan specifically for the small community event setting.
“We’re headed the second weekend in April to a bluegrass event - the smaller events like this are what I prefer,” Janice Denton said.
Independent business owner Daren Wilson said he came to the event to showcase health and beauty products from Leadership Team Development.
Near his booth sat Sherronda Sanders and stood her one-year-old son, Spencer.
“It’s something different but something fun for him to get out and walk around,” she said.
Sauce from seasoned crawfish painted the hands of Ozark mayor Bob Bunting as he listened to local entertainers from a picnic table.
“These (crawfish) are good but there’s not that much meat...This event is a great thing for Ozark and hopefully it will grow and grow,” he said.