Featured Photo: UT Martin students talk at the annual Cowboy Crawdad crawfish boil at UT Martin on April 6, 2026. (Pacer Photo / Chloe Kent)
On Monday, April 6, the University of Tennessee at Martin Flight Crew and UTM Residence Life hosted Cowboy Crawdad, a crawfish boil on the Connor Community Lawn from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The annual event kicked off UTM Rodeo Week and brought students together for food, music and time to hang out outside as the semester continues and the weather begins to warm up.
The event started early for many students, with several people arriving early and lining up to get inside. Entry to the event was free for students when they presented their event passes.
Not long after the event began, tables began filling up as students arrived on the Connor Community Lawn. Some students came in groups, while others met up with friends once they got inside.
The area became more active as the night went on. Groups of friends sat together eating and talking, while others walked around to explore everything that was offered. The crawfish boil was the main attraction of the event, being a hotspot where students gathered around to get food and chat before finding a place to sit and socialize.
In addition to the food, there were also opportunities for students to win prizes. Items like light-up cowboy hats and UTM Rodeo tickets were given away for free, giving students something extra to enjoy during the event. Students were also able to join in on activities like cornhole, while some focused more on spending time with friends and enjoying the atmosphere. The variety of activities available helped keep people engaged throughout the night.
The Houston Kelly Band performed during the event, providing live music throughout the night. The band’s performance added to the overall feel of the event and helped keep the energy up.
The warm weather, music and food made the crawfish boil a good place for people to spend time together and take a break from school and other responsibilities. Many students said they enjoyed the event.
“It was amazing,” said UT Martin freshman Calvin Osborne. “The food was fantastic, and it was nice to hang around people.”
Several organizations on the UT Martin campus host various events throughout the semester, giving students more chances to get involved and spend time with others outside of class, especially as the end of the semester approaches. Students can use Runway or check their email to see what events what events by Flight Crew, UTM Residence Life and other organizations are happening soon.
