Beats & Eats kicks off its 2018 season tomorrow, Saturday April 7, with a Cajun Creole theme called “Rajin’ Cajun.” The Beats & Eats planning committee has chosen separate themes for each event this year.

“We are excited to introduce themes to the Beats & Eats events,” co-director Mat Faulkner said. “Themes give an opportunity for each event to be unique in the style of food, type of music, activities and art.”

Co-director, Marka Bennett, said the event will include various activities, such as a crawfish eating contest, where competitors can pay $25 for three pounds of crawfish.

Bennett said that this month’s event will be sponsored by Who Dat’s Cajun Restaurant in Bald Knob. Along with Who Dat’s, there will be a variety of other options including, Say Cheese, Excaliburger, J&M Meats and Seafood, Joy Macarons, Daisy’s Lunchbox, Burrito Day, Savor + Sip and Cookie Basket.

The live music lineup consists of two bands: Brick Fields plays at 6:30 p.m., and the Chris Baker Blues Band at 8 p.m. Arts and crafts vendors will have booths set up at the event.

Junior Savanna Bitting attended Beats & Eats events last year with her friends.

“There’s a lot of really great local food trucks that come out, which is nice,” Bitting said. “My friends and I also loved all the live music. It was really nice to be surrounded by both the Harding and Searcy community in the same place.”

Senior and student director for CAB (Campus Activities Board) Keslee Dunavin said she believes Beats & Eats is a great opportunity for students to spend their Saturday right up the road instead of finding fun outside of Searcy.

“Students should consider attending Beats & Eats because it’s a great way to connect with the Searcy community,” Dunavin said. “The entire atmosphere is awesome.”

Beats & Eats will be held at 121 N Main Street from 5-10 p.m. For more information, visit Searcy Beats & Eats on Facebook.

“Searcy Beats & Eats is a great way to have fun, listen to great live music, eat awesome food truck food and check out artesian-made goods right downtown every month,” Faulkner said. “We would love Harding students to be involved. Sign up to play music, bring yard games, make things and sell them, and come create art.”