Seafood is a way of life on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. Celebrate this maritime magic with a weekend of food, music, art and Olympic National Park sights at the annual Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival in downtown Port Angeles, Washington.
CrabFest happens every October and is one of the best seafood festivals in the United States.
THE FESTIVAL SCOOP
Pacific Northwesterners come by the droves (or schools, perhaps?) to Port Angeles for the Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival in October. Dive into sweet, briny Dungeness crab hauled fresh right from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. People eat at this event – over nine tons of seafood was consumed in 2019. This vibrant festival runs three days in and around the Port Angeles City Pier.
Admission is free. Purchase your crab dinner in advance though to ensure you secure a taste of the showstopper. For true Dungeness devotees, plan to visit multiple days. Feast your seafood soul on over 75 booths including local restaurants featuring varied seafood fare, business and local artisans. An oyster or two might fly by during the cooking demonstrations. Honor the history of the region with a Welcome Ceremony led by the lower Elwha Klallam tribe. Make a pitstop in the wine and beer garden with live music to rock you into a seafood trance. Or sip a craft cocktail at the Northwest spirits bar.
For those that need a palate cleanser, trot through the 5K Fun Run. Or check out the U.S. Coast Guard air and sea rescue demonstration and the Feiro Marine Life Science Center for a deeper appreciation of what it takes to navigate the sea. This is a family-friendly festival filled with games and activities for the kiddos such as “catch a crab” and much more.
WHILE IN PORT ANGELES
If you want to be central to the festivities, stay at the Red Lion in downtown Port Angeles, or one of our charming vacation rentals or B&Bs near downtown. Meander over to Hollywood Beach for a scenic break to admire the sapphire waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It’s an easy place to paddle, too. Rent an electric bike from Discover E-Bikes and pedal the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) in either direction. For a quick trek with views of the ocean and the town below the snow-capped Olympic mountains, head west on the ODT to the 3-mile sand spit Ediz Hook. Or, go leaf peeping to some of our favorite fall spots around the Olympic National Park.
Explore local art or grab some needed gifts and gear at the many downtown shops. Need to nosh on something other than seafood? Port Angeles has plenty of dining options to treat your taste buds.
