Claude the Cajun Crawfish predicts party weather in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana!

Louisiana's own weather predictor has "overshadowed" that furry little guy from Punxatawney, Penn. No longer content to share the day with the groundhog, Claude the Cajun Crawfish has claimed Feb. 1 as the official day when he predicts party weather for Northwest Louisiana Mardi Gras. Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker and Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower honored the Cajun crustacean by jointly making an official proclamation that Feb. 1, 2006, was "Claude the Cajun Crawfish Day" in Shreveport-Bossier City, La.

There's a lot riding on this prediction for Claude. If he fails to predict party weather for Mardi Gras . . . well, let's just say that there's a steaming pot of chicken and sausage gumbo nearby that could only be enhanced by the addition of some crawfish. But, as always, Claude waved his claws wildly in the air and predicted perfect party weather for the upcoming Mardi Gras festivities. Claude's buddies, Big Clawed and Lil’ Bugger from the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Hockey team, helped coax him out of his dirt mound. Representatives from local Mardi Gras krewes were also there to cheer him on.

The festivities took place on the banks of the Red River at one of the premier shopping/ dining/ entertainment complexes in Shreveport-Bossier City, the Louisiana Boardwalk. The cheers were loud when Claude raised his claws to the sky and emcee Sandy Franks announced his fair weather prediction for the two major parade weekends – Feb. 18, Krewe of Centaur and Feb. 25, Krewe of Gemini – and all other Mardi Gras celebrations. To that I say “Laissez les bons temps rouler!" (Or, "Let the Good Times Roll” for the French-impaired.)

After the event, a relieved Claude returned to his hole while the crowd enjoyed king cake and chicken and sausage (not crawfish) gumbo. Dr. Cookie and Louisiana Dan entertained everyone with festive Louisiana-style music.

If you'd like to know more about Claude the Cajun Crawfish and Mardi Gras events in Shreveport-Bossier City, contact Claude’s media representative, Brandy Evans, at the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau at 800-551-8682 or bevans@sbctb.org. Claude’s prediction and photos of the star at the event are available at www.shreveport-bossier.org/media/claude