Port Angeles, Wash., Sept. 12, 2011 – Get Ready… Here Come The Crab! Taste the bounty of the Olympic coast and savor the riches from our sparkling blue waters, magical forests, and organic farms at the 10th Annual Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival on Saturday, Oct. 8 and Sunday, Oct. 9 in Port Angeles. “Crabfest” is the annual celebration of our region’s diverse bounty - the seafood, agriculture and maritime traditions, and the breathtaking coastal environment that is home to the Dungeness Crab. The Festival takes place downtown at the Port Angeles City Pier, Gateway Center, and Red Lion Hotel overlooking the beautiful Strait of Juan de Fuca. Hours are 10am-8:30pm on Saturday and 9am-5pm on Sunday. Admission is free and the big top tent provides covered seating.
The American Bus Association has named the Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2011, and last year Coastal Living Magazine named the festival one of the Top 10 Coastal Events for 2010. And -- how many events can say that they were a Jeopardy question? We were!
Presenting Sponsors of the Festival are: 7 Cedars Casino Properties, First Federal, Kenmore Air Express, and Westport Shipyard Inc. The Festival is produced by Olympic Peninsula Celebrations and the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce.
It’s All About Great Food and The Galloping Gourmet Is Coming!
In the 8,000 square foot Windermere Real Estate Crab Central food tent, visitors will find an old-fashioned “crab feed” complete with large kettles of fresh whole crabs ready to be served with Sunny Farms fresh corn and Nash’s organic cole slaw. The crabs are caught in local waters – the freshest you can get! There is live music at the Jim’s Pharmacy Stage, and wine tasting provided by the Olympic Peninsula Wineries Association, plus Northwest beer and other beverages.
The First Federal Gateway Center is home to the Chef Demonstration Stage, featuring on-going cooking demonstrations by outstanding local and regional chefs. This year we will have the iconic Graham Kerr, the Galloping Gourmet, one of the first television celebrity chefs. Kerr will not only cook for festival-goers, but will have his new book for purchase and signing.
At Crab Central and throughout the grounds on the pier and at the Gateway Center, the bounty of local and regional restaurants will provide visitors with great eating including: crab cakes, crab cocktails, fish tacos, crab enchiladas, crab Rangoon, clam chowder, crab bisque, seafood gumbo, fish & chips, gumbo, barbecue oysters, oyster shooters, steamed clams, oyster stew, mussels, grilled scallops, roasted corn and potatoes, desserts including chocolate bread pudding, sweets and savories, local homemade organic berry and pumpkin pies, and more. The bounty...and the flavors...are endless!
Crab Revival
New this year is the Crab Revival, Sunday morning from 9am-10:30am sponsored by the Cedars at Dungeness. The program will include a non-denominational service, gospel music from the Peninsula Men’s Gospel Singers and Abby Mae & The Homeschool Boys, and great food including crepes, crab quiche, traditional breakfast ,and beverages. Join us for a spiritual morning and a great start to Sunday.
Fun For Families!
“Get crabbing” during the High Tide Seafood and Wilder Auto Grab-A-Crab Tank Derby, Saturday from 10am-5pm, and Sunday from 10am-4pm! Located on the Port Angeles City Pier, the entire family can participate in this unorthodox derby by crabbing from large holding tanks using crab snares and bait. The $5 entry fee allows participants to crab for 10 minutes, no license or gear needed. Festival volunteers will be on hand to demonstrate how to catch, cook and clean the famous crustaceans. Purchase whole crabs to take home cooked or uncooked.
The Education Program brings together a full schedule of activities throughout the Festival. In addition to The Gateway Center Chef Demonstration Stage, City Pier will host environmental and marine exhibits in the education area. Stop by the Fiero Marina Life Center for a hands-on educational experience or to enjoy children’s activities.
Also on the Pier, peruse more than 60 craft and merchant booths, children’s activities and family friendly food vendors. Don’t miss the raptor demonstration and “ambassador birds” from the Northwest Raptor and Wildlife Center.
Athletics
The Peninsula College Athletic Department is a great Crabfest partner. Saturday and Sunday on Hollywood Beach is the Crab Volleyball Tournament supporting the volleyball program; Saturday is the Crabfest 5-K Fun Run/Walk with proceeds supporting the women’s basketball program. And when you get your Crab Derby crabs cleaned and packed to go, the men’s basketball team does the work and proceeds go to their travel fund. And every night the soccer team cleans Crab Central, a very important job.
Click here for the 2011 Crab Festival Brochure.
The Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival is produced by Olympic Peninsula Celebrations, a Washington State non-profit corporation, and the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce.
For more information including transportation, accommodations, directions and the detailed program, please go to our website at www.crabfestival.org, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or phone 360-452-6300.
