Mark Chesnutt will highlight the 19th Annual Llano Crawfish Open slated for this weekend.

Held each year at Llano’s Robinson Park, this year’s event is stacking up to be another great one, benefitting local charities.

As always, the event is centered around a two day, four-man golf scramble that kicks off bright and early Friday morning. There are shotgun starts at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. each day and there is still room. The fee of $60 per person covers greens fees, cart rental and the cost of the meal. There are prizes for longest drives and closest to the pin on selected holes. Call the Llano River Golf Course at (325) 247-5100 for details.

The menu of boiled crawfish, barbecue, jambalaya and potatoes and corn will be served beginning at 11 p.m. each day with serving set to close at 7 p.m.

Other events include a motorcycle fun run Saturday, the Crawfish Crawler 5K Saturday, the Crawfish Team Roping at the Llano County Arena and a washer pitching contest Saturday. There will be arts and crafts and all kinds of fun for the entire family.

Friday evening there will be live entertainment at the Badu House along with a live auction. All weekend, music will be provided by the Dr. Zog Band.

A $5 admission will be charged for entry into the Park Saturday, that includes the ticket for Mark Chesnutt, which kicks off at 8 p.m.

Log onto llanocrawfishopen.com.

The History:

The Llano Crawfish open began when a group of deer hunters from Beaumont decided, in 1989, to give something back to Llano County and the Texas Hill Country which had become their home-away-from-home during White Tail Deer season. Teaming up with their friends in the city of Llano these folks from Beaumont held the First Annual Crawfish Open in 1990.

Introducing the delectable taste of boiled crawfish to the "beef eating" folks in Llano County didn’t get off to a promising start. Of the 500 pounds of boiled crawfish prepared that first year, 300 pounds ended up as fish-food in the Llano River. However, a total of $480 was raised, and used to purchase a motorized wheelchair for a local man who suffered from MS After all was said and done, everyone had such a good time that it was decided to do it again the next year.

In setting this goal they all realized a very real need in the Llano County area—The Llano Special Opportunity Center, a facility for mentally and physically challenged adults. Though the center receives a limited amount of funding from the state, their needs are still great and the remainder must come from community funds. With this in mind the goal was clear. The Llano Crawfish Open would pledge to be an ongoing supporter of the Llano Special Opportunity Center.

The Crawfish Open of 2007 was bigger and more successful than ever. The Open was blessed with beautiful weather and loyal supporters came out in full force.