Get your crab on

The popular Texas Crab Festival on Bolivar Peninsula has been synonymous with Mother’s Day weekend since 1985 and the 39th annual event promises to provide plenty of excitement with music, arts and, of course, crabs.

Named one of the “10 Best Food Festivals to Dive Into” by USA Today, the crustacean celebration takes over Festival Park (1605 Highway 87) in Crystal Beach on May 10-12.

You’ll find numerous food concessions offering a variety of fresh seafood and festival favorites such as funnel cakes and literally anything on a stick. Sink your teeth into crabby creations from crab nachos to crab stuffed jalapenos to barbecued crab.

Browse more than 80 vendors featuring coastal art & crafts, apparel, jewelry, fishing gear and gifts. Visit with the many local organizations and businesses representing the vibrant coastal community. This year’s festival hosts the highly contested crab gumbo cookoff and crab races, Texas 2-step dance contest, wiener dog races, 5K-1K run/walk, washer tournament, cornhole tournament, scavenger hunt as well as an all new massive “Kidz Zone” with mechanical bull, slides, obstacle courses, laser tag and more.

Festival hours are 4 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $15 on Friday and Saturday, and free on Sunday. Kids 15 and under are always free, as is festival parking. A weekend pass is available for $25.

The music kicks off on Friday at 7:15 p.m. with the high-energy Big Jordan Band, who will play a mix of classic, country, rock and blues, followed by headliner and everyone’s favorite Cajun – Wayne Toups at 9:45 p.m. The Louisiana Blues Hall of Famer is expected to perform his Zydeco hits such as “Sugar Bee,” “Take My Hand,” “Please Explain” and more.

For those wanting to jumpstart their Saturday morning, the 5K run will begin at 8 a.m. on the grounds of historic and picturesque grounds of Fort Travis Seashore Park (900 Highway 87) near the Port Bolivar Ferry landing. Prizes will be awarded including “Best Dressed Crab” costume. Registration for the 5K run can be done online at texascrabfestival.org.

The music plays on all day Saturday, beginning at noon with the Galveston Ukulele Society, 3 Way Switch (1:45 p.m.), Little Comic, a 10-year-old inspiring hip hop/artist (4 p.m.), David Joel (5:30 p.m.), Tommy Katona and Texas Flood (7:45 p.m.) then headliner and Texas Country legend Roger Creager at 10 p.m.

On Sunday at noon, “Coastline at LSCPA” will take the stage. This performing ensemble from Lamar State College Port Arthur’s Commercial Music, Visual and Performing Arts Department will perform a variety of genres.

Also, on-stage Sunday is La Mentira Norteña (2 p.m.), a popular accordion group from Houston, and Cajun Blend will headline at 4 p.m.

All proceeds benefit Texas Crab Festival Charities, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase educational and career opportunities for Bolivar Peninsula residents of all ages and to support local organizations that further the goal of improving the lives of the residents of Bolivar Peninsula.

The festival creates awareness of what the Gulf Coast community has to offer in terms of tourism, food and entertainment opportunities, encourages peninsula involvement, supports youth development, scholarships, and unites the community of Bolivar Peninsula in a spirit of pride.

Patrons can also view a live webcam by BolivarPenisulaTexas.com. 

For detailed information and schedule updates, view texascrabfestival.org.