Crystal Beach was the place to be this past weekend as the Texas Crab Festival celebrated its 40th anniversary with a weekend full of flavor, rhythm, and community spirit — Gulf Coast style. What started as a small local gathering has grown into one of the most anticipated annual events on the Bolivar Peninsula, and this year was one for the books!
The Calm Before the Crab
Set-up began the week before, and you could feel the excitement buzzing in the salty air. Volunteers and organizers worked tirelessly — tents popped up like mushrooms, colorful banners flapped in the sea breeze, picnic tables were perfectly positioned for optimal crab consumption, and vendor spaces were carefully marked. Everything was in motion… until Mother Nature decided to test the team’s resolve with a Friday morning downpour.
But this is Texas. And this is the Crab Festival. The show must go on!
The Crab is Back!
By the time the gates opened, every vendor booth was buzzing, every volunteer was in place, and the smell of sizzling crab dishes filled the air. With the raising of the flag and the National Anthem proudly sung, the 40th Texas Crab Festival was officially underway!
From that point forward, the weekend exploded with nonstop entertainment. Friday night set the tone with a spirited dance contest that got boots tapping and hips swinging, followed by a lineup of live music that kept the energy high and the crowds pumped late into the night.
Crabby Good Times for All
Saturday morning kicked off bright and early with the 5K Run, where enthusiastic runners and joggers earned their crab legs the hard way. One of the festival’s most beloved events, the Wiener Dog Races, drew a massive crowd and plenty of laughs as dozens of determined dachshunds dashed, dodged, and sometimes just dawdled toward the finish line.
Visitors feasted on every crab dish imaginable — boiled, fried, stuffed, in gumbo, on tacos, and even crab nachos. More than 60 vendors showcased handmade arts and crafts, while festival-goers browsed for unique souvenirs, including this year’s commemorative t-shirts and hats. And of course, no visit was complete without snapping a photo in front of the giant crab, now a festival icon.
One of the biggest crowd-pleasers on Saturday was the brand-new Crab Boudin Ball Eating Contest, held that afternoon. Twenty brave (and hungry) entrants were pulled straight from the crowd and faced off in a high-stakes, three-minute showdown to see just how many crab-stuffed boudin balls they could devour. It was messy, it was hilarious, and it was pure Crab Fest gold.
Big Daddy Flanagan kept the excitement flowing as emcee, announcing bands, calling out raffle winners, and stirring up smiles all day long. The Kidz Zone overflowed with laughter as children got hands-on with inflatables and games, while adults enjoyed both live and silent auctions full of must-have treasures.
As the sun dipped low on Saturday, Zydeco legend Wayne Toups took the stage and brought the house down with a performance that had everyone dancing barefoot in the sand.
Sunday Funday: Hispanic Heritage Day
Sunday was all about Hispanic Heritage Day, with free admission and live music celebrating the vibrant cultures that shape the Texas Gulf Coast. Families turned out to dance, eat, and soak in the final hours of festival fun.
As the weekend came to a close, the American flag was gently lowered while “Taps” played in the background — a solemn and beautiful moment to end three days of joy, laughter, music, and community.
The crowd, still buzzing from the weekend’s excitement, smiled through the farewell, already looking forward to doing it all again next year.
