St. Johns River Catfish Festival in Crescent City, Florida
Every first Saturday of April, downtown Crescent City fills up for one of the longest-running festivals in Putnam County — catfish dinners, a parade, live music, and the Catfish 5K. The 44th annual ran April 4, 2026. Watch this page for the 2027 announcement, or book the cabin now to be half a mile from the park next year.
Catfish, Community, Scholarships — Since 1978
Since April 1978, the Rotary Club of Crescent City has hosted the St. Johns River Catfish Festival the first Saturday of April at Eva Lyon Park. The 2026 event drew about 12,000 visitors to a town that normally holds a few thousand — every dollar after costs goes to college and vocational scholarships for local high school students.
The festival is unfussy, family-run, and very Old Florida. Fried catfish plates, live music in the park, a parade through downtown, and a 5K that brings the running crowd in by sunrise.
- When: First Saturday of April, every year
- Where: Eva Lyon Park, 236 S Summit St, Crescent City, FL
- Admission: Free — proceeds raised through food, vendors, and the 5K
- Parade: 11 a.m. through downtown Crescent City
What the Day Looks Like
Vendors open around 9 a.m. — arts & crafts stalls, a car show, a kids' zone, and the food line wrapping out of the catfish tent before lunch. The parade rolls at 11. Live music starts after the parade and runs into the late afternoon. For the first time in 2026, the Rotary served beer alongside the catfish.
- Catfish dinners — fingerlings, filet sandwiches, traditional sides
- Parade — 11 a.m. to noon, downtown route
- Live music — local bands, afternoon set
- Arts & crafts — vendors throughout the park
- Kids zone — games, activities
- Car show — classics on the lawn
- Alt food — burgers, dogs, chicken fingers, strawberry shortcake, swamp cabbage
From the Cabin to the Festival
Crescent City Lake Cabin is a half-mile walk from Eva Lyon Park. On festival Saturday, you can leave the dock at 10:30 and catch the parade with time to spare.
The Catfish 5K Is Back
After a multi-year break, the Crescent City Catfish 5K returned in 2026, run as a Dollars-for-Scholars fundraiser alongside the festival. The course starts behind Napa on Highway 17, loops through downtown, and finishes near the park — 3.1 miles, mostly flat, plenty of catfish at the finish line.
- Distance: 5K (3.1 miles), small-town downtown course
- Entry: $35 early registration, $40 race day
- Start: Saturday morning behind Napa on Hwy 17
- Register: Search "Crescent City Catfish 5K" on RunSignup
- Medal: First 100 finishers
Plan the Whole Weekend
The festival is the anchor, but Crescent City has plenty going on around it. Build a two-night stay and make it a proper escape.
The main event. Catfish dinners, parade, live music, vendors, and a car show at Eva Lyon Park.
Sunrise 5K through downtown, $35 early registration. Course finishes near the festival grounds.
When Easter falls the weekend of the festival (as in 2026), the next morning runs an Easter celebration at 100 S Summit St.
The cabin's dock opens onto Crescent Lake — bass, crappie, catfish year-round. April is prime season.
Five-plus shops on Central Avenue — Old Florida furniture, collectibles, glassware.
Hallie's Landing, Dunns Creek State Forest, kayaking, manatee-watching in winter — the full local guide.
Catfish Festival FAQ
The questions people ask Google about the festival — answered here, with the lodging answer at the bottom.
Where is the Crescent City Catfish Festival?
Eva Lyon Park, 236 S Summit Street, Crescent City, Florida 32112 — in Putnam County, on the St. Johns River. The Rotary Club of Crescent City has hosted it on the first Saturday of April since 1978.
Is the festival free?
Yes — admission and parking are free. The Rotary Club raises money through catfish-dinner sales, vendor fees, and the Catfish 5K registration. All proceeds fund college and vocational-school scholarships for local high school students.
What time is the parade?
The parade rolls at 11 a.m. and runs about an hour through downtown Crescent City. Vendors and food stalls open earlier, around 9 a.m., and live music picks up after the parade until about 4 p.m.
When is the next Catfish Festival?
The festival runs every year on the first Saturday of April. The most recent confirmed event was the 44th annual on April 4, 2026. The Rotary Club typically announces the following year's date in late winter — we update this page as soon as it's official. The official site is stjohnscatfishfest.com.
How do I register for the Catfish 5K?
Registration runs through RunSignup — search "Crescent City Catfish 5K" or go directly to the race page. Entry is $35 in advance and $40 on race day. The first 100 finishers get a medal, and proceeds support the same Dollars-for-Scholars program as the festival.
What kind of catfish are in the St. Johns River?
Channel catfish and white catfish are the most common; three bullhead species — brown, black, and yellow — round out the natives. (Source: Jacksonville University's River Life column, 2022.) Crescent Lake, which the cabin sits on, connects to the St. Johns system, so the same species show up off our dock.
Where can I stay near the Catfish Festival?
Crescent City has only a couple of small motels in town, so most festival visitors stay at lakefront vacation rentals nearby. Crescent City Lake Cabin Rental is a half-mile walk from Eva Lyon Park — the closest dock-to-parade rental in the area, with a private dock on Crescent Lake. April books up early; check availability for next year's festival weekend.
Walk to the parade. Sleep on the lake.
April fills up early — see availability for next year's festival weekend.
See AvailabilityFestival photography courtesy of the Rotary Club of Crescent City & the St. Johns River Catfish Festival.