Each October foodies and fun-seekers from across the United States and as far away as Finland descend upon the scenic Olympic Peninsula to partake in a grand celebration of the coveted crustacean that derives its name from the town where it was first commercially harvested back in 1848 — Dungeness.
The 13th annual Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival will expand to a three-day format this year, taking place Friday – Sunday, October 10 – 12, at the Port Angeles City Pier. Hours are Friday, 12:30pm – 10pm; Saturday, 10am – 10pm; and Sunday, 10am – 5pm. Admission is free.
“CrabFest” as the festival has come to be known, has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association, and as one of the Top 10 Coastal Events by Coastal Living magazine. It was also featured in national food magazine Saveur.
Thousands of pounds of fresh Dungeness crab are pulled from local waters each year, enabling festival-goers to eat their fill while also enjoying a wide variety of locally grown and produced foods.
The 9,000 square feet Kitsap Bank Crab Central Tent will house an old-fashioned crab-feed complete with large whole crabs, fresh corn and cole slaw. At Crab Central and throughout the grounds, 15 local and regional restaurants will serve-up everything from crab cakes to Northwest Paella to Seafood Gumbo and much more! The Taylor Shellfish Farms Raw Oyster Bar is not to be missed! Non-seafood and vegetarian dishes will be available, as well.
In addition to great food, there’s live music throughout the event; a Chef Demonstration Stage featuring ongoing cooking demonstrations by a line-up of outstanding local and regional chefs; a Sunday morning non-denominational “Crab Revival” with gospel music performed by local artists; a Chowder Cook-Off sponsored by the Captain Joseph House Foundation; the Grab-A-Crab Tank Derby and other family-friendly activities; and more than 60 vendor booths with juried crafts and information provided by environmental organizations.
For details including transportation, accommodations, directions and the full program, please visit our website at www.crabfestival.org, e-mail [email protected], or phone 360-452-6300.
