African Unite
All Glassied Up
Apple Pie Publishing
Audubon Society
B & E Concessions
Beachy Beatnik
Beers Creations
Bell Family Endeavors
Better Living
Big Bayou Cocktail Sauce
Big Beauty Boutique
Blood Drive
Bohemian Cowgirl Emporium
Born To Be Wild
Brushed by Dori
Bundt Cake
Cajun Eats and Sweets
Carmen’s Corn
Carter’s Country Cookin
CBCC Bake Sale
Chics Dig It
Coastal Pro LLC
Cutco Cutlery
DeMontrond RV
Emergency Services District #2
Face Value Caricatures
Fishizzle
FJ Soap
Four Reasons Enterprises, LLC
Fried and Sprinkled
Gelu Italian Ice
Golf Car Connection
Gulf Coastin Drinking Apparel
Getaways Unlimited
Gourmet Concessions
Houston Diesels
Hagstrom Collection
Inside and Out
Island Dream Waves
Jilly Bean Accessories
Jimmy Jams
Joe Natural Leather
Jose’s Cantina
JP Originals
Just Beachy Paint & Sip
JV Jewelry
Kactus Hats and Shirts
Karmel Kettle Gourmet Popcorn
La Playita
Latitude29.2 Surf Shop
Lighthouse Foundation
Lighthouse Krewe
Linn Enterprises
Little Rocks
Luna Garden Art
L&L Lures
Making Waves Creations
Mi Gente Imports
Mia’s Toys
Murals Anywhere
Nautical Birds
New London Enterprises
Oh Darlin!
Outdoor Handyman
One Tribe
Pecans by Karen
Primordial Persuasions
R I Touchette’s
Red River Traders
Renewal by Anderson
Resort Vacations Inc
RI Touchett
Saltgrass Honeyworks
Salty Hooker Lifestyle
Scentsy
Seaside Sisters
Sew Scrappy
Simplistic Sensations
SpunkySparkles Hat Bar
Sweet Cheeks
Sweet Christine’s Brittle
Sweets Treats and More
Seadrift Art
Sela Builders LLC
Tabi’s Timeless Treats
Table Tether LLC
Tasty Cajun Butter
Temporary Airbrush Tattoos
Texas Cuts BBQ
Texas First Bank
Texas Untamed Embroidery
The Glass Tattoo
The Sawdust Mama
The Seaside Sisters
Tiff & E’s Orange Box
Traveling Tiki
Technology 2000
Texas Master Naturalist
T-Mobile
Violas Vittles

Music, Art, and Crabs: Celebrating the 41st Annual Texas Crab Festival

The steam has cleared and the music has faded, but the spirit of the 41st Annual Texas Crab Festival is still buzzing across the Bolivar Peninsula. On May 7–9, Swedes Park in Crystal Beach was the epicenter of Gulf Coast culture, bringing together thousands of locals and visitors for a three-day celebration that proved why this event is a “Top 10” destination in the nation. While early-week forecasts threatened to dampen the festivities with stormy weather, the rain luckily never materialized, leaving us with coastal skies for the duration of the event.

Highlights from the Weekend

From the crack of the starting gun at the 5K Fun Run to the final gavel at the Live Auction, there wasn’t a dull moment.

• The Food: As always, crab was the star of the show. Whether it was the savory entries in the Crab Gumbo Cookoff or the mountain of boudin balls at the eating contest, the flavors of the Gulf were on full display.
• The Entertainment: The stage stayed hot all weekend. Crowds scooted their boots during the Texas 2-Step Dance Contest and cheered on their favorite four-legged athletes at the Wiener Dog Races.
• The Community: The Family Fun Zone was a hit with the kids, while the Scavenger Hunt kept families exploring every corner of Swedes Park.
• Stay tuned: We will be announcing the official winners of the cookoffs, contests, and races right here and on CrystalBeach.com/local-news/ in the coming days!

Giving Back to Bolivar

Beyond the music and the seafood, the true heart of the festival is its mission. Operated by Bolivar Peninsula Charities, the proceeds from this weekend go directly back into our community—funding scholarships, supporting volunteer fire departments, and strengthening local outreach.

When you bought a ticket or bid on a silent auction item, you weren’t just paying for a good time; you were investing in the future of the peninsula.

See You in 2027!

A huge thank you goes out to the 200+ volunteers, the generous sponsors, and every single person who walked through the gates. You are what makes the Texas Crab Festival a “one-of-a-kind” experience.

Start making your plans now—we’ll see you back at Swedes Park next May for more music, art, and crabs!