Not everyone in Washington is a seafood lover … but those of us who are lucky enough to have a taste for it know the Pacific Northwest has the best seafood selection. That’s why so many people head to Port Angeles every October to savor delicious crab, chowder, and more at the annual Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival. This year’s festival will be its 20th, and it’s shaping up to be better than ever.

The 2021 festival dates are October 8-10, so mark your calendars and get ready to “shellebrate.”

Every October, people from all over the Pacific Northwest gather in Port Angeles for a weekend of fun, festivities, and good eating.

UDI AK / Google Admission is always free, which is fantastic – you’ll want to save your money for crab.

Port Angeles City Pier is the perfect setting for such an occasion.

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival / Facebook The festival marks the annual celebration of the region’s diverse bounty – the seafood, the maritime and cultural traditions, and the breathtaking coastal environment. In fact, the featured crustacean, the Dungeness Crab, was named after the village of Dungeness, which is located near Port Angeles.

Friday’s festivities kick off with the Grab-a-Crab Derby, which is always a blast.

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival / Facebook For $5, you can go “crabbing” in the holding tanks. No license or gear is required. If you catch a specially tagged crab, you get to keep it!

The lineup also includes arts and crafts, a 5K fun run, live music, an oyster bar, and other events…

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival / Facebook

… but of course, the main attraction is the Dungeness Crab.

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival / Facebook You can get crab to-go or eat it on-site in many forms.

The highlight of the festival is the Old-Fashioned Crab Dinner, which is held every evening in the Crab Central Tent.

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival / Facebook The dinner, which costs $39 in advance, includes fresh crab, farm-fresh corn on the cob, and coleslaw. A whole crab averages two pounds, so you’ll certainly be well-fed.

In light of current conditions, there will be some extra precautions taken at the festival this year.

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival / Facebook The First Fed Crab Central Tent will have limited seating capacity, hand sanitizer will be available at every restaurant counter, and all staff and volunteers will have face coverings. CrabFest is held mostly outside and is spread out over three open acres, so everyone can enjoy lots of fresh air.

If you’re planning on going to the Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival this year, here’s where to get your tickets to that tasty crab dinner.

UDI AK / Google

Admission is always free, which is fantastic – you’ll want to save your money for crab.

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival / Facebook

The festival marks the annual celebration of the region’s diverse bounty – the seafood, the maritime and cultural traditions, and the breathtaking coastal environment. In fact, the featured crustacean, the Dungeness Crab, was named after the village of Dungeness, which is located near Port Angeles.

For $5, you can go “crabbing” in the holding tanks. No license or gear is required. If you catch a specially tagged crab, you get to keep it!

You can get crab to-go or eat it on-site in many forms.

The dinner, which costs $39 in advance, includes fresh crab, farm-fresh corn on the cob, and coleslaw. A whole crab averages two pounds, so you’ll certainly be well-fed.

The First Fed Crab Central Tent will have limited seating capacity, hand sanitizer will be available at every restaurant counter, and all staff and volunteers will have face coverings. CrabFest is held mostly outside and is spread out over three open acres, so everyone can enjoy lots of fresh air.

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Address: Port Angeles, WA, USA