If two days of feting the succulent Dungeness Crab is good, why not go for three days?
Thousands of locals and area visitors alike are expected to flock to the 2014 Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival, expanded to a three-day format Oct. 10-12 on the Port Angeles waterfront.
White House chef John Moeller headlines the festival that caters to culinary enthusiasts from across the U.S. and Canada.
“People have such a good time,” says Kelly Jo Hill, volunteer director and dining room manager for the event. “It’s just a fun atmosphere. People … are acting silly, wearing crab hats, letting loose and having fun. That’s what brings me back.”
Under an enlarged (11,000-square-foot) Crab Central Pavilion, crab-lovers can eat their fill from 12:30 p.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.
In addition to the traditional crab feed — featuring fresh, locally caught whole Dungeness crabs — hungry attendees can get their hands on locally grown corn-on-the-cob and fresh cole slaw. The Crab Central Big Top will house 12 local and regional restaurants where fresh seafood, non-seafood and vegetarian dishes will be served-up, plus a beer and wine garden.
“It’s still a family-friendly event,” Hill says.
The event has become quite popular with the Canadian crowd, Hill notes, as Black Ball Ferry Line’s M.V. Coho staffers promote a “Save a Turkey and Eat a Crab” promotion.
“We fill the ferry (that weekend),” Hill says.
Art as education
New to this year’s offering is “Marine Debris Art Project – from Trash to Treasures,” what event organizers call a “thought-provoking, fascinating and unusual” artistic exhibition making its Crabfest debut on Friday at Hollywood Beach.
The outdoor exhibit features sculptures created by local artists from marine debris (a.k.a. trash) found in local waterways.
The exhibit was created to raise public awareness of the toxicity of marine waste and to encourage people to consider their roles in helping protect the coastal environment.
Each marine debris sculpture will be available not only for all to see, but also to vote on. Festival-goers may cast their vote for the titled piece of their choice. The winning creator will be named Marine Debris Art Project Artist for 2014.
The public will also have the opportunity to participate in creating a community marine debris sculpture in the shape of a crab to memorialize the “Trash to Treasures” exhibit.
Chefs on display
Moeller prepared and presented cuisine for three First Families during the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Moeller appears on the Chef Demonstration Stage at the Gateway Center to demo his favorite recipes of the presidents, tell stories from the White House kitchen and sign copies of his book, “Dining at the White House – from the President’s Table to Yours.”
Four renowned Northwest chefs and select local talent share the Demonstration Stage with Moeller throughout the weekend. Among the guest chefs include: Bill Ranniger, corporate executive chef at Duke’s Chowder House and Cynthia Nims, cookbook author and consultant. Local talent includes chefs from Blondie’s Plate and Kokopelli Grill.
“Each of the chefs come in and present a meal and (people) get to sample it,” Hill says. “It’s like a cooking show in person.”
Seahawks broadcast
The Seattle Seahawks take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 12, with a 1:10 p.m. kick-off. Festival-goers may watch all the action at the Crab Central Pavilion. The festival will have three televisions to view the game.
Also, the festival is auction off two tickets for the Nov. 2 Seahawks matchup with the Oakland Raiders. Tickets are $10 each and only 500 tickets are available. Pre-purchase tickets at The Co-op Farm and Garden in Sequim or KONP News Radio 1450 in Port Angeles.
And more …
Other festival highlights include:
• Food, craft and nonprofit booths on the City Pier
• Grab-a-Crab Tank Derby
• Live music throughout the weekend
• 5K Fun Run (proceeds support Peninsula College’s women’s basketball team)
Volunteers sought
To help out at the Crab Festival, contact Hill at volunteer@crabfestival.org.
More info
For details about transportation, accommodations, directions and the full program, visit www.crabfestival.org, e-mail info@crabfestival.org or call 452-6300.
