SHREVEPORT, LA — Memorial Day weekend in the ArkLaTex has always been synonymous with spicy seafood and cold drinks, but this year, the region is doubling down on the excitement.
Downtown Shreveport is set to become the ultimate epicenter of Southern culture as two of the area’s most anticipated events — the legendary Mudbug Madness Festival and the high-octane Red River Rumble F1 Powerboat Showdown — join forces to take over the riverfront beginning Friday.
Whether you are looking to peel a few pounds of Louisiana crawfish or feel the thunderous return of the fastest outboard powerboats in the nation, this weekend is for you.
Mudbug Madness
What began in 1984 as a two-day street festival in downtown Shreveport is now one of Louisiana’s largest and most popular Cajun festivals, featuring country, pop, blues, and the very best in zydeco music.
Now a three-day festival held each Memorial Day weekend, Mudbug Madness is nationally recognized as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events and the American Bus Association’s Top 100 Events in the nation.
Click here for a schedule and ticket information.
Red River Rumble
The 2026 Red River Rumble will feature more than 50 of the fastest outboard powerboats in the nation, with prime viewing opportunities at Riverview Park in Downtown Shreveport and at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City.
The event is part of the IHRA F1 8-race series spanning North America, showcasing drivers as they tackle tight, technical courses with deck-to-deck intensity and speeds reaching up to 120 mph.
The weekend kicks off with the IHRA F1 Block Party on Friday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Commerce Street in conjunction with Mudbug Madness. This fan-favorite event offers a rare chance to meet the drivers, see the boats up close, get autographs, and even have a chance to sit inside a real Formula 1 powerboat.
Click here for a schedule and ticket information.
