Sausalito’s Inaugural Crab Festival — A Crowd Pleaser!

In the San Francisco Bay Area, especially the waterfront, winter usually means cold, rain, fog, and often windy conditions. Not much to look forward to. But for crab aficionados, it’s the best time of year — Dungeness crab season. That’s the time when they can feast on their favorite seafood. And feast is exactly what they did at Sausalito’s inaugural Crab Festival, hosted at Clipper Yacht Harbor, Sausalito, last Saturday.

The original date, Feb. 1, was rained out, but last Saturday, Feb 22, the conditions were made to order — sunny skies, clear weather, warm temps, and just a hint of breeze. Definitely worth the wait!

Hundreds of hungry crab fans strolled through the event grounds and enjoyed the delicious, fresh crab, which was prepared in tacos, gumbo, crab cakes and more. And for those who prefer the unadorned experience, there were plenty of fresh-caught cooked crabs available. Scoma’s of Sausalito and Hog Island Oyster Co. were kept busy serving crab cakes and fresh oysters, while two lively bands kept everyone entertained between feeds.

In true mariner and waterfront style, countless businesses and individuals came together to create the Sausalito Crab Festival. The Crab Fest was hosted by Clipper Yacht Harbor, the Sausalito Sustainable Waterfront Association, Sausalito Boat Show, and Fish Restaurant, with integral support from H & M Marine. More supporters included KKMI, Helmut’s Marine Service, Silver Seas Yachts, Jeff Brown Yachts, Williams Group, and Rifkin Yachts, local artisan LOVEMARIN, Oceanic Yachts, Vita Power, and Bay Area Refuse. The sponsors’ aim was to highlight their dedication to Sausalito’s fishing culture and maritime heritage. Yacht brokers showcased their boats for sale, and local marine services highlighted their specific trades.

Sausalito Crab Festival event manager Mitch Perkins says, “Everyone worked really hard on the event, but everyone had a lot of fun, and we all look forward to hosting another festival next year.”

Through events like the Sausalito Crab Festival, SSWA promotes sustainable fishing practices while celebrating the unique culture and history of Sausalito’s fishing industry.

On a sunny, midwinter Saturday in Sausalito, it doesn’t get much better than that …

Proceeds from the event went directly to the fishermen, who had both a booth and a boat on the dock so people could learn more about crabbing and commercial fishing. SSWA also shared a petition for crab fishermen to be able to sell directly to the public from the docks, which was received with overwhelming support.

We’ll have the same again next year, please!