Festival Info

CrabFest and the Community

CrabFest 2020: October 9-11  – Cancelled
CrabFest 2021: October 8-10


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Olympic Coast Cuisine
The Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival introduced Olympic Coast Cuisine several years ago and it has continued to develop with the infusion of very talented and experienced chefs into the region. These chefs are utilizing the cultural and food resources of the Olympic Peninsula in their food preparation and presentation. The Festival brings this unique concept to the public and provides local producers the opportunity to present Olympic Peninsula products to a broader consumer base.

Environmental Education
The Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival will help visitors learn about the natural environment of the Olympic Peninsula and specifically about current issues in Clallam County. The Festival is partnering with local environmental educational organizations to provide educational activities designed to create a better understanding of the natural resources and issues facing the Olympic Peninsula.

Mission
Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival is a Washington State nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving, protecting and sharing the traditions and cultures of the Olympic Peninsula through a wide range of educational programs, festivals, and special events.

Financial Proceeds
A portion of the proceeds of the Festival will be distributed to educate people about our local watersheds and habitats and toward other environmental issues that affect local aquaculture and agriculture.

Economic development and tourism organizations
Crab Festival works closely with the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce and the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau. Besides dollars generated for lodging, food, and other services, the festival contributes to the economic development of Clallam County by providing sales and development opportunities for the local community specializing in seafood, agricultural, and related artistic products, and provides support for the movement to teach people about consuming and utilizing local products.

The Native American community
The festival’s Native American program fosters appreciation for the heritage of the native peoples of the area and the many traditions that stem from the Northwest’s cultural diversity.

Vendors and other business participants
From local restaurants and chefs to fishermen, artisans and lavender farmers, the festival helps build and sustain local businesses and cottage industries.

Environmental and ecological organizations
Local organizations help visitors and locals learn about the ecology and natural history of the Olympic Peninsula. A portion of the festival’s proceeds will be distributed to watershed education in the Dungeness River and Bay habitats and toward other environmental issues that affect local aquaculture and agriculture.

Peninsula College
The Peninsula College Athletic Department continues to build on its relationship with Port Angeles’ largest festival organizer, The Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival. In this year’s CrabFest, athletes representing the women’s basketball team will host the annual CrabFest 5K Fun Run, set for a Saturday morning start at Hollywood Beach. The men’s basketball team will clean crab for the hundreds of crab captured in the Crab Derby and the soccer teams will come in each night to clean Crab Central.

Rick Ross, Associate Dean for Athletic/Student Life stated, “A big part of our mission is to give back to the community and teach our athletes about community service. The Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival is a first class organization, and we enjoy working with them. It’s great visibility for our program and while many of our community activities are completely service based, this one is a bonus, because CrabFest provides a generous fundraising component.”