FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

THE PRICE OF SEAFOOD

We have had to raise our prices because of the instability of the crab market and the rising prices everywhere. But if you purchase your dinner in advance online until Friday at midnight of the Festival you crab us guaranteed. You can order both full and half crab dinners online as well as Curbside Pickup (in the Transit Lanes). You can also get your dinner wrapped to go.

Crab dinners will be available at the Festival as they last. Thanks for your understanding of the difficulties in gathering and guaranteeing this much fresh Dungeness Crab.

All crab dinners (whole or half) include: A fresh Dungeness Crab (warm or cold), farm-fresh corn on the cob and coleslaw. Our whole crab averages 2lbs.

“Yum!”

We will be preparing the freshest Dungeness Crab, (aka “Northwest lobster”) possible. Our crabs are caught right before the Festival and kept in saltwater tanks at just the right temperature and brought to the Festival for cooking. 

In order to guarantee your crab dinner in this volatile market, crab dinners should be purchased in advance. 

Advance purchase notes: Your Dungeness crab dinner tickets will be honored during all hours of operation for the assigned Friday, Saturday or Sunday, day and date, you purchased. 

Please note: The tickets list 11am which is the opening time for the food tent, but your ticket is good at ANY TIME you wish to dine on the Festival date for which it was purchased.

We recommend not getting in line for your crab dinners from 12:30-1:30 as the Coho Ferry arrives from Victoria and the passengers have only a few hours to eat before they return. We have 16 food booths and lots to see and your crab is always waiting for you. Thanks for your understanding.

*Changes and Refunds: If the Festival is cancelled for any reason you will receive a full refund, minus applicable credit card and ticket processing charges. If you have a change in travel plans and need to change the date of the ticket, please call the CrabFest office at 360.452.6300. If you have an emergency and cannot attend the Festival this year, you may receive a refund up to 14 days in advance of the Festival.

FRESH  CRAB
Every October 1st, the commercial Dungeness crab season opens in our local waters – the Strait of Juan de Fuca, (the water separating the U.S. from Canada which includes Vancouver Island and Victoria, Canada directly north of Port Angeles), and Puget Sound. This is also called the Salish Sea. High Tide Seafoods, our crab sponsor and provider secure fresh crab directly from 5 local boats who select crabs averaging 2lbs just for us – typically over 9 tons of fresh crab! These crabs are held in large saltwater tanks, with the temperature and oxygen providing their ideal environment, just down the street from the Festival site. They are delivered daily, or more often as needed, throughout the weekend.  They are cleaned and cooked on-site in big crab cookers. This is the freshest crab you can find! If you’ve never had truly fresh crab (not from the grocery store or even your favorite restaurant), then you’ve never really tasted fresh Dungeness crab!

PURCHASE ADVANCED CRAB DINNER TICKETS

FESTIVAL DATES
CrabFest is scheduled for the weekend of Canadian Thanksgiving, which is the 2nd Monday of October. This allows our Canadian friends to come visit on the Ferry Coho and nearly 3,000 Canadians visit every year.
2024 Dates: October 11-13.                                                                                                                                          2025 Dates: October 10-12

 

Crab meals are served between 11am-9pm, Fri and Sat. 11am-4:3opm.

LOCATION
CrabFest is located on the waterfront in Port Angeles, Washington, including City Pier and the parking lot of the Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor.   The GPS address is 221 N Lincoln St., Port Angeles, WA 98362

PARKING
Park for free downtown where there are more than 2,000 parking spaces. There are also paid lots, so please watch the signs.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING
Parking lots in Port Angeles have accessible spaces. Since there are limited spaces there, we have a “Disabled Drop-Off” location on Railroad Avenue.  You may drop people off and then find a parking space.

CAN I TAKE MY FRESH COOKED CRAB BACK TO CANADA?
Yes! You can take cooked crab and other seafood into Canada.

MILITARY DISCOUNT 
We honor our active members and families of the armed forces with a $5 discount on crab dinner prices all weekend, and 10% off all merchandise at our information booths. Please show current active military ID to receive your discounts.

ATMs AND CREDIT CARDS
The closest ATM is at The Wharf (just north of the big tent). There are also ATMs at First Federal (First & Laurel Streets) and Safeway (south on Lincoln Street) and other nearby banks. Our inside food booths accept VISA, MasterCard, some take American Express, and Discover Card. Many, but not all, of the outside vendors, take credit and debit cards.

DO YOU ACCEPT CANADIAN CURRENCY?
Unfortunately, we do not accept Canadian currency due to the exchange rate. Individual outside vendors may do so, at their discretion.

CAN I BRING MY DOG TO CRABFEST?
Yes, but not in the Crab Central Pavilion, as that is considered a restaurant (with the exception of service animals). There are additional outdoor food vendors, plus all of the other activities where your dog is welcome on a leash. Please scoop! But if you want the crab feed, main stage, beer and wine, and fun of the main tent, then we recommend you leave your pet at home.

WHERE ARE RESTROOMS LOCATED?
Restrooms are located in the Gateway Pavilion and on City Pier on the west side of the triangular building. Additionally, there are portable toilets outside the main tent on the waterside.

CRAFT & MERCHANT VENDORS
The festival vendor spaces fill up fast and space is limited. Applications are available beginning in February and the application deadline is in early May. After the deadline has passed, please email your contact information to operations@crabfestival.org to check on the status and be added to the waiting list. Normally there are no last-minute spaces available.

LOST AND FOUND
Lost property is taken to the information/merchandise booth located in front of the Crab Central Tent. After the festival, please call (360) 452-6300 or email operations@crabfestival.org to see if your lost item was turned in.

WHERE IS THE SATURDAY FARMERS MARKET?
During Crab Festival the Farmers Market moves to the Vern Burton Community Center parking lot on Fourth and Peabody Streets, just a few blocks from the festival. The hours are 10am-2pm. The Port Angeles Farmers Market is your best source for locally grown food and local crafts on the Olympic Peninsula. We have a great representation of local farms featuring organically and sustainably grown vegetables and fruits. Many local artisans also make our Market their home, featuring beautiful handmade art and crafts.

VOLUNTEERS
Can I volunteer for CrabFest? Yes, we need your help! There are positions available throughout the weekend, so register online in advance or come to either of the information booths during the festival. All volunteers will receive a Volunteer T-shirt. Volunteers who work two or more shifts during the weekend will receive a free ½ crab dinner.

FUN FOR KIDS
The Feiro Marine Life Center, located on City Pier (small admission charge), allows visitors to explore our marine environment with hands-on exhibits and activities. For more marine education and fun for families, visit the Olympic Discovery Center, next door at The Wharf, second floor. On the main floor of the Wharf is a great Arcade.

The Festival Fun Zone is new in 2023. Several local nonprofits will have activities located near the food on the pier. 

FESTIVAL ARTWORK
Who designed the CrabFest artwork?
The Red Salish Crab was designed by local Native American Artist John Goodwin, also known as Nytom. The copper ‘Welcome Crab” was created by Clark Mundy, and the Crab Festival logo is by Cory Ench . “Louie” the colorful crab featured on the 2018 festival program, posters, and merchandise, was created by artist Don Dye of Wildlife Images. Artists Sarah Tucker and Jennifer Bright created the sea debris sculptures hanging in the Crab Central Pavilion.

NONPROFIT AND CHARITY GROUPS
We have spaces for nonprofit groups by application only. Once the festival begins, no one may set up tables, chairs, or booths. We are looking for groups that have an environmental, maritime, or conservation theme. You may distribute information or campaign materials and solicit signatures, but not to captive audiences (such as the crab feed line) or inside the tent or other buildings.

STREET PERFORMERS / BUSKERS
The Festival appreciates street performers. Due to the limited size of the site and the tight spacing of activities, the Festival may regulate and play street performers so that they do not interfere with Festival programs or lines. Please check-in at our information booth for updates based on crowd and location.

CRABFEST SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY!
The Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival makes donations each year to a variety of community organizations. Our donation programs include nonprofit groups who volunteer for the Festival, gift baskets to support local fundraising events, and direct cash donations.

Some of the groups we have supported include:  Feiro Marine Life Center, North Olympic Land Trust, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Peninsula College Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Peninsula College Soccer, Sequim Irrigation Festival, North Olympic Skills Center, Puget Sound Anglers, Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club, Washington Hospitality Association, First Step Family Support Center, Leo Bourget/Don DeFrang Memorial Golf Tournament benefiting the Port Angeles Food Bank, Captain Joseph House Foundation, Sequim Lions Club, Port Angeles Food Bank, Center Valley Animal Rescue, and the Port Angeles Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC).                                                  

If you are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and would like to request a donation of a souvenir gift basket, including Crab Dinner Tickets, for your special event fundraiser, please e-mail us at Operations@crabfestival.org  and provide a brief description of your organization and your event as well as your contact information. Please allow at least 3 weeks advance notice.

FIRST AMENDMENT POLICY
The Festival is held in a public space. Distribution of information or campaign materials and solicitation of signatures for petition drives is permitted as long as contact is not made with captive audiences, such as people in line for an event or inside the tent or other buildings. We reserve the right to move and position political campaign activities for crowd control purposes.

CONTACT US
Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival
PO Box 2560, Port Angeles, WA 98362
122 N Lincoln St (Weekend Event Address for GPS)
Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360) 452-6300
info@crabfestival.org
www.crabfestival.org