Welcome to Crab Fest!

The clock tower at Gateway Pavilion

An enthusiastic promoter of "fishing" for crabs

This year was my 1st year visiting Port Angeles' annual Crab Fest. It was a showcase of all that is wonderful about living on Washington state's Olympic Peninsula and the Pacific Northwest! Food, art, music, wine, beer, cooking demonstrations and plenty of community! 

Hundreds of fresh crab waiting for the Crab Feed

This one's name is "dinner" for some lucky diner

The sense of community started with the location and the mammoth center tent. The area encompassing the Port Angeles pier, the grounds of the Red Lion Inn and the Gateway Pavilion were home of the large tent and many the other myriad of tents.

The exterior of the large center tent

The center tent interior

The festivities started Friday afternoon with a Crab Feed! What was on the menu? What are my choices? Whole or half crab cooked to perfection, corn on the cob and fresh coleslaw and your choice of beverages.

This is the whole crab with drawn butter

Some of the 700+ diners served Friday Night

Bibs optional but definitely suggested!

Which beverage to choose...

Some local wineries featured

The live music stage filled the whole area

Saturday and Sunday were when the variety of food, art tents and family entertainment events opened up.

Again, the best of the Olympic Peninsula and the Pacific Northwest really shined. I was really proud to hear accents from all over the world amongst the guests and to offer this glimpse of our cuisine, art and crafts.

Handcrafted copper Salmon weathervane

Buy a pole and "fish" for a crab at the Crab Derby

A successful catch is sometimes intimidating

Bacon wrapped, grilled Alaskan scallop taco

Crab Bisque from Toga's our local soup guru

Fresh crab cakes from Chef Doug @ the Red Lion Inn-YUM!!!

A fine example of truth in advertising!

Seared Alaskan Scallops over mushroom rice pilaf-WOW!!!

Now THAT'S a fresh crab cocktail!

My neighbors Hunter and Chloe with their Cod fish and chips from Koekepeli's

As much as I gorged myself on all things crab and seafood this weekend, I was happy that the desserts did NOT contain any crab whatsoever! They were local, fresh, delicious, region favorites and all handcrafted by Michael at Raindrop Desserts in Sequim. He was baking literally night and day to keep up with demand. I hope he enjoyed the experience as much as the over 1,000 recipients of his pies, bread pudding and crab quiches did!!

Bread pudding with rum glaze from Raindrop Desserts

Local organic blackberry pie from Raindrop Desserts

Lazy J Apple pie again, from Michael at Raindrop Desserts

They even had a "Crab Revival" on Sunday morning in the outdoor pavilion featuring a brief sermon and lots of fantastic gospel music, breakfast foods from a full bacon, eggs and hash browns to coffee and crab quiches were available. They all tasted better out in the crisp morning salt air. I was SO hungry I forgot to snap pictures while devouring my breakfast from The Cedars at Dungeness. The grilled up thick cut bacon, delicate and fluffy scrambled eggs, and buttery, crispy hash browns. I know you're already picturing it in your mind:)

Sunny Sunday morning's Crab Fest Revival crowd

One of the many helpful Crab Fest volunteers 

I'm already looking forward to next year's Crab Fest. Until then, my memories from this year's event will have to sustain me. So proud to be from the ubundantly blessed Olympic Peninsula and Pacific Northwest!

A tub of Dungeness crab

Check out this beauty!

Side entrance of the big tent

Sunset over the Olympic Mountains

Come visit us out here, eat a while, walk on a beach, go for a hike in the mountains or hit the links on one of our many golf courses. As my husband and I say; "It's ALL good!".

Chow for now my friends!