The 2012 Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival offers food and entertainment all day Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 13-14, in Port Angeles. Events are scheduled from 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, clustered around the harbor, Gateway Center, City Pier and the Red Lion Hotel. Admission is free.
Freshest crab
The “big top,” Crab Central Pavilion, hosts an old-fashioned crab feed with whole crabs, fresh corn and coleslaw, along with live music. Throughout the festival grounds 15 local and regional restaurants provide visitors with crab cakes, crab enchiladas and crab Rangoon to grilled wild salmon, Northwest paella and grilled scallops, plus Olympic Peninsula wines, Northwest microbrews and the Peninsula’s own Bedford Sodas.
Families also can catch their own during the Grab-A-Crab Tank Derby on the City Pier. The $5 entry fee allows participants to crab for 10 minutes, no license or gear needed. Festival volunteers will demonstrate how to catch, cook and clean the famous crustaceans.
Visitors may purchase whole crabs to take home cooked or uncooked.
Cooking, rescue, revival
The Gateway Center hosts the Chef Demonstration Stage, featuring ongoing cooking demonstrations by outstanding local and regional chefs, an outdoor wine garden, more food booths and exhibits.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Air Station Port Angeles helicopter crew and divers perform an air-sea rescue demonstration Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. just off City Pier.
The Crab Revival is Sunday morning from 9-10:30 a.m. A non-denominational service, followed by breakfast, will be led by Michael Rivers, with music from the Peninsula Men’s Gospel Singers and other local musicians.
On the Pier
There will be more than 60 booths on City Pier, with a juried crafts show, food-related products and nonprofit groups emphasizing environmental issues.
In addition to family friendly food and entertainment, the Feiro Marine Science Center will be open with hands-on educational experiences and children’s activities.
Sporting connection
The Peninsula College Athletic Department is a major Crabfest partner. The Crabfest 5-K Fun Run/Walk, with proceeds supporting the women’s basketball program, takes place Saturday.
The Crabfest Sand Volleyball Tournament hits Hollywood Beach on Saturday and Sunday.
The men’s basketball team cleans and packs crabs from the Grab a Crab Derby, with proceeds going to the team travel fund.
Every night the soccer team cleans Crab Central.
For more information about the festival, including the detailed program, see www.crabfestival.org, e-mail info@crabfestival.org or call 452-6300.
