Fresh crab, live music, a crab derby, local beverages and more will have crab lovers clawing at the chance to attend the 11th annual Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival in Port Angeles.

The festival, declared by Coastal Living magazine as one of the top 10 Fabulous Fall Festivals on the Coast, runs the weekend of Oct. 13 and 14.  Port Angeles is about a two-hour drive from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord area and is nestled on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula.

"It's a big party," said Nikki Vail, director of operations for the festival. "It's wonderful watching everyone have a good time."

Fifteen local and regional restaurants will provide visitors with great eating from crab cakes, crab enchiladas and crab Rangoon to grilled wild salmon, northwest paella, grilled scallops and much more. Under an 8,000 square foot tent will be an old-fashioned crab feed complete with large kettles of fresh whole crabs ready to be served with fresh corn and cole slaw.

Fresh cooked, like at the crab feed, is Vail's favorite way to eat the succulent from the sea.

"Just crack it and eat it," she said, adding "although you can't shake a stick at a good crab cake." 

If seafood isn't to your liking, the festival offers plenty of other food choices like pizza, tamales and desserts and of course plenty of beer and wine - it is a festival after all!

There will be activities for family fun like live music, craft booths, and the highlight - a crab derby! For $5, kids have a chance to reach into a 500 gallon tank and, with bait and snares, grab a crab. They will then learn how to clean and cook the delectable crustaceans.

"It's hilarious to watch," Vail said of the derby. "Some kids think they're taking home a pet and their dads say, ‘Um, no, that's dinner.'"

Cooking demonstrations from some of the region's top chefs, an air-sea rescue demonstration, performed by the Coast Guard, and a "crab revival," complete with gospel music, will also be featured.

The event has socially responsible highlights, too. The festival is partnered with the Peninsula College Athletic Department and sponsors a Crab Fest 5K fun run/walk to support local sports programs. Information booths emphasizing environmental topics will be set up along the pier as well.

The festival's featured crustacean, the Dungeness Crab, was named after the village of Dungeness, which is near Port Angeles. Maritime and coastal history and cultural traditions will also play a part in the festival.

For more information, visit www.crabfestival.org.