Celina's Special Events Advisory Committee will get its first look at a draft 2027 events calendar and an update on the city's events budget when it meets Wednesday, Nov. 11, as city staff keep studying whether Celina Cajun Fest should start charging admission.
The committee meets at 5:30 p.m. at the Celina Economic Development Corporation office, 302 W. Walnut St. Its agenda lists a department update, a Fiscal Year 2027 events budget update, a quarterly events report, the draft 2027 calendar and a progress report on the city's 150th anniversary celebration.
Paying for Cajun Fest
Minutes from the committee's Aug. 5 meeting, posted in the Nov. 11 packet, show how the admission question came up. Special Events Manager Bree Shamsy led a workshop on the festival's long-term finances, and members reviewed cost recovery trends, rising event costs and the admission models that comparable festivals use, according to the minutes.
Members filled out a written exercise on possible admission options while stressing that the festival should stay accessible to the community and keep its character, the minutes say. Staff will weigh that feedback as it evaluates cost recovery options "over the next several years." Committee members asked to keep discussing Cajun Fest admission and the festival's sustainability at future meetings.
The minutes do not describe a specific ticket price or a date for any change, and no admission vote is on the Nov. 11 agenda.
At the same August meeting, Shamsy recapped the 2026 Cajun Fest and Splash & Blast, pointing to changes in talent booking, public safety, volunteer leadership, Wi-Fi and live event cameras, VIP experiences and parking, along with the 150th anniversary theme folded into both events.