Crystal Beach prepares for Texas Crab Festival

Part of the fun of the Texas Crab Festival is getting involved in the many events that take place each year. Work off that crab gumbo, have some laughs and make some new friends – you may even win some great prizes!

On Friday night the Crab Fest honors Gulf Coast favorite and friend Donnie Vondra with a Memorial Two-Step Dance contest at 8 pm. Grab your partner and boot-scoot your way to fun and prizes. This contest is as fun to watch as it is to participate in, as dancers twirl and kick-up the sawdust to some great toe-tapping country tunes.

Saturday morning’s Crab Fest kicks off with an exhilarating 5K/1K Fun Run/Walk at 8:30am. This is a certified, timed run that attracts runners from across the country. The course takes participants past charming beach homes and cheering spectators in the neighborhood adjacent Gregory Park and back. Each entrant earns a goodie bag that includes a t-shirt and a ticket to the festival. Medals and trophies are awarded in each of several categories. Wear your craziest, crabbiest costume and you could even win Best Crab Runner!

Always a crowd favorite, the Wiener Dog Races are back again this year. The heat is on as spectators cheer these hot little dogs on to win the title of top dog, along with medals and prizes for the pups. Bring the kids and get there early for a good spot for the races, which start at 10:30am Saturday.

Grab your gumbo pot, your best roux recipe, and your crabby crew and sign up now for the 2016 Texas Crab Festival Gumbo Contest. The competition can get pretty intense as participants fight it out for great prizes and some pretty hefty bragging rights. Best of all, proceeds from the entry fees benefit the Lone Survivor Crystal Beach Retreat, which serves the needs of our U.S. veterans and their families. The contest officially takes place from 11am – 2 pm Saturday.

Sign up for some serious fun from 1pm-3 pm Saturday afternoon as players test their mettle in the Washer’s Tournament for fun and prizes. Or pull up a chair to watch and learn as some of the best players around battle it out for the Texas Crab Fest championship.

At 2 pm it’s time for the legendary Crab Legs Contest. Part beauty contest, part comedy show, the Crab Legs Contest always draws a crowd to cheer on their favorite crabby contestants.

On Sunday join the Bean Bag Toss Tournament for some good, old-fashioned fun, starting at 1:00pm.

All weekend long the kids can have a go at the Kid’s Pinata Crab Bash at the Kid’s Stage. Check the program for times.

As you can see there’s something for everyone, so sign up now! The 2016 Texas Crab Fest is on Mother’s Day weekend, May 6-8 at Gregory Park in Crystal Beach. It promises to be a tasty mix of Gulf Coast style music, art, crabs and fun for the whole family. To learn more visit texascrabfestival.org or follow the latest news on Facebook at facebook.com/texascrabfestival.