Louisiana flair, fun coming back to Manassas for ‘Cajun Occasion 2’

Okra’s will throw a Louisiana-style picnic again this year in Historic Downtown Manassas.

The celebration — Okra’s Cajun Occasion 2 — invites residents to the lawn of the Manassas Museum where they can be with family and friends, listen to live music, and treat themselves to a bounty of Louisiana fare.

“This is the kind of thing where everyone can come down, bring a lawn chair, listen to live music and get their dance on, or they can go to our all-you-can-eat buffet and feast on our lagniappe,” said Okra’s Cajun Creole Restaurant Owner Charles Gilliam.

This year’s feast takes place May 15, from noon until 4 p.m. It is a traditional crawfish boil with other Louisiana fare featuring favorites such as Jambalaya, Red Beans & Rice, and cornbread.

For music fans, Kitty and the Fat Cats will take the stage to liven up the scene with more fun and entertainment. The Northern-Virginia based band will play jazz, blues, swing, and soul music.

Most importantly, says Gilliam, this event is designed to be a relaxing day on the museum lawn. Attendees are encouraged to come as they are, bring blankets, lawn chairs, even pop-up tents and relax and enjoy the day.

Okra’s Cajun Creole has been a staple of the Historic Downtown Manassas restaurant scene for almost 18 years. In years past, Gilliam organized a day-long street festival in Downtown Manassas, with multiple vendors and musicians.

“It was hard to keep up and maintain the kind of all-day energy you need for an event like that,” he said. “We came in, starting setting up tents at 3 a.m., would work all day, and would be breaking down tents and pulling home trailers full of stuff at 2 o’clock the next morning.”

Yet, he still wanted to bring a bit of the Bayou to Manassas, so the First Annual Cajun Occasion was held on the Manassas Museum Lawn last June. The event was such a success Gilliam brought it back this year with hopes it will grow into an even bigger event as the area’s premier Louisiana-inspired gathering.

In addition to the great Cajun food, there will be a shaded Wine and Beer Garden with four Louisiana beers, including Abita, available for purchase on tap. A portion of all proceeds will go to support Volunteer Prince William – a local non-profit whose mission is meeting community needs through volunteer resources.

General Admission “Crazy Cajun” tickets for the event are $35 each (thru April 30 when they increase to $40) and include the all-you-can-eat authentic Louisiana buffet and crawfish boil.

VIP “King Rex” attendees ($60 each) will be treated to a tented, seated area within the Wine & Beer Garden area. They will also enjoy their own private buffet which includes the Louisiana fare and crawfish boil.

Tickets are limited in the VIP area and are selling fast. Children ages 12 and under are admitted to the festival free of charge (kids burgers, hot dogs, and ice cream treats will be available a la carte).

Those who purchase King Rex or Crazy Cajun tickets before April 30 will also receive a free Cajun Occasion t-shirt.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please go to cajunoccasion.net.