Pike Road, Ala. — On Saturday, May 20, 2023, the Pike Road Patriot Fund transformed a Century Church on Marler Road field into a bustling tent city for the annual Pike Road Crawfish Boil. With over 703 tickets sold in advance, the event grossed $45,500 in ticket sales and sponsorship contributions, all of which will support arts and athletics programs at Pike Road Schools.
The atmosphere was vibrant, with tents scattered across the field, live music echoing throughout, and the smell of freshly cooked crawfish filling the air. Families, friends, and supporters gathered to enjoy a day filled with laughter, community spirit, and Cajun-inspired fun. Key attractions included live music performances, kids’ activities, and plenty of crawfish. Notable attendees included Pike Road Town Council members, Mayor Gordon Stone, school board representatives, and various community leaders. The Dogwood team made a strong showing with a tent near the stage, drawing employees, friends, and clients together to enjoy the festivities.
The highlight of the day was the crawfish, cooked to perfection by Allemand’s Seafood from Pierre Part, Louisiana. Over 7,000 pounds of crawfish were boiled and served, quickly disappearing as attendees indulged in the Louisiana delicacy. The preparation and execution were a testament to the dedication of the event organizers and vendors, who worked tirelessly to create an authentic experience.
Proceeds from the event will directly benefit a wide range of programs within the Pike Road Schools. In the past six months, funds raised from the 2022 boil supported the girls’ tennis team, football team, show choir, softball team, youth judicial participants, boys’ tennis, high school and junior high art programs, elementary art programs, basketball, baseball, robotics, and cheerleading. Richard White, a lead event organizer, emphasized the event’s impact: “Without local businesses supporting this event, we wouldn’t be able to support Pike Road Schools as we do. Having many people here and having a great time means more students will have the things they need to succeed in athletics and arts at Pike Road Schools.”
Much of the event’s success was due to the involvement of local businesses, with Dogwood Media Solutions leading the charge on marketing efforts. Dogwood provided graphic design, t-shirt designs, website development, registration management, email marketing, social media promotion, and digital advertising to ensure the event’s widespread visibility and ticket sales. “You have to have a partner like Dogwood and Brian Harris to do an event of this magnitude,” White continued. “I’m glad we have them here in Pike Road. Without their work and partnership, we wouldn’t have nearly the number of people here.”
Brian Harris, owner and CEO of Dogwood, reflected on the importance of giving back to the community through events like this. “We love being able to give back to our community in Pike Road, and being involved in this event annually is a great way to do that,” Harris said. “Several staff members have or will have kids in the Pike Road School system. So, not only is it a fun, family-friendly event, but it helps our school system. It’s a win-win for Dogwood to be involved.”
As the 2023 event wraps up, organizers are already approaching 2024. “The 2024 event will be back next year, bigger and better than before,” White said. “We look forward to its continued growth.” With strong community involvement, local business partnerships, and a shared passion for supporting education, the Pike Road Crawfish Boil is set to remain a staple event for years to come.
