The 2023 Texas Crab Festival was filled with family fun, lots of crabs, and, unfortunately, some Texas-size rainstorms. Despite being rained out Saturday night, the three-day event over Mother’s Day weekend was a feat. The 38th annual iconic event drew festival goers from all over the Lone Star state, Gulf Coast region, and beyond. Cracking crabs, live music, a kid zone, and a 5k run were all part of the weekend’s entertainment and activities.

101 food and shopping vendors filled Festival Park with arts, crafts, fashions, festival foods, and plenty of crabs. “Amazingly, the festival was a triumph despite the rain, lightning, and mud. As a board, we are thankful for our success and the support of the community, our festival attendees, and our volunteers who made the best out of the forecast. As a charity, we will still be able to give back and will be able to provide scholarships. That is what the Texas Crab Festival is all about,” says Tom Osten, Texas Crab Festival Board
President.

Grammy award winner Wayne Toups kicked off the Festival on Friday night with Big Jordan opening. A sea of lawn chairs and dancing bodies enjoyed the energetic sounds. Saturday was jammed packed with a large crowd. Vendors were busy, and memories were made before the rain and lightning called it a night. On a muddy Sunday, accordion sounds of Latin and Cajun closed out the festival with music by La Mentira Norteña and Bayou Sounds.

The festival held several different contests, such as the Crab Gumbo Cookoff. 7 Teams competed for bragging, with the Ace in the Hole cooking team taking home the top honor. “What a great time and honor; we stirred up a good pot and some great fun, said Mark Regan, head chef.

The Texas 2 Step dance contest had couples dancing, a wiener dog race with 40 different entries was a crowd favorite, and a 5k run with over 250 runners was a complete success. In addition, washers and a cornhole tournament, crab races, and more were held throughout the weekend. The 2023 Texas Crab Festival experience did not disappoint; it was a victory! Proceeds from the annual Texas Crab Festival and donations from festival visitors are reinvested in the community and help fund youth scholarships, local schools, volunteer fire departments, and various outreach initiatives. Over $450,000 has been donated back to the community in the past ten years. The 2024 Texas Crab Festival is set for May 10-12.

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Texas Crab Festival Charities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves to improve the lives of those who call the Bolivar Peninsula home. Proceeds from the annual Texas Crab Festival and donations from our patrons are reinvested in the community and help fund youth scholarships and camps, local schools and volunteer fire departments, and various outreach initiatives. So while you, your family, and friends are enjoying all the music, art and fabulous food the Texas Crab Festival has to offer, know that you are also helping to give back to our very special and unique community.