Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival - Port Angeles, WA

“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. 

Port Angeles, Washington, July 8, 2014 - 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 (www.crabfestival.org) 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.
 
It’s all about great food and fresh crab. 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 foot Kitsap Bank Crab Central Tent will house an old-fashioned crab-feed complete with large whole crabs, fresh corn and coleslaw. 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.

Held annually on the second weekend in October, Crabfest is an ideal culinary event around which to plan a fall getaway weekend – or longer. 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. 
 
New this year, the Marine Debris Art Project, From Trash to Treasures, will be on exhibit at Hollywood Beach next to the Feiro Marine Life Center at City Pier. The purpose of the project is to create permanent sculptures that will educate the public about the serious damage to the marine environment that is caused by the garbage that people dump into the ocean. The art that is created will be made exclusively from material gathered from the marine environment, including the ocean, rivers, and lakes. 
 
Four artists will complete their sculptures on site during the festival. The public will also have a hands-on opportunity to help bring a fifth sculpture of a Dungeness crab to life. 

A Seasonal Highlight Along the Olympic Culinary Loop:
 
The Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival is a seasonal highlight for Port Angeles, a city located 15 miles west of Dungeness, in a region long known as an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Indeed Parade magazine just named nearby Hurricane Ridge the No. 1 tourist destination in Washington based on a TripAdvisor survey.
 
These days the Olympic Peninsula is fast becoming known as another kind of destination – one for culinary adventure.  Winding through four Olympic Peninsula counties encompassing diverse microclimates, the Olympic Culinary Loop is alive with farms, produce stands, fisheries, creameries, bakeries, wineries, cideries, farm-to-table experiences and authentic culinary events, all within reach of Hwy. 101, the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway. The byway showcases the region’s diverse geography, from glacially sculpted peaks and towering old growth forest in Olympic National Park, to sea stacks along the wild ocean beaches and lush estuaries. The scenic natural beauty is enhanced by living tribal cultures, historic seaport towns, and rolling agricultural land. 
 
During the fall, culinary travelers can visit artisan wineries, take a county farm tour, pick wild mushrooms, savor a farm dinner at a local waterfront resort, and of course, enjoy all the fresh crab they can eat at Crabfest. The Culinary Loop route is designed to put visitors in touch with the people who grow, harvest, catch and serve fresh Olympic Coast cuisine, offering up a true sense of place.
 
Set against a backdrop of vibrant fall foliage, the snowcapped Olympic Mountains and coastal waters, the Olympic Peninsula is the perfect place to savor the season. Bring your hiking boots, kayak, mountain or road bike and get out there – you’ll want to work up an appetite.
 
More About Crabfest:
 
Getting There
There are several ways to get to Port Angeles. Drive Route 101 to Port Angeles; fly Kenmore Air Express with connections to SeaTac and the world; and visitors from Canada will find special packages on the Coho Ferry from Victoria, which docks right next to the Festival.
 
Sponsors
There would be no Crabfest without the support of our more than 40 sponsors. Special thanks to the Presenting Sponsors: Black Ball Ferry Line, Kitsap Bank, Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles, Peninsula Daily News.  
 
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 details including transportation, accommodations, directions and the full program, visit  www.crabfestival.org, e-mailinfo@crabfestival.org, or phone 360-452-6300.
 
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