As hot butter poured over a heaping seafood bucket, starring crab, elsewhere at Ship Point, people danced, children chased bubbles, and others learned sea facts.
BC CrabFest "doubled again in size" in its third year, says president of BC Crab Co., Heather MacLeod, and Ship Point was a "fantastic" new setting for the June 29 festival to flourish.
"Being in the Inner Harbour gives people that sense of exactly where their food is coming from," MacLeod said.
With around 5,000 attendees last year, the festival outgrew its previous location of Banfield Park. MacLeod estimates over 10,000 people attended this year.
Moving to Ship Point also gave her a chance to carry out her vision: having more ocean stewardship and education as a component of the festival.
"It's not so much about the numbers; it's about the community forming around the celebration of our coastal culture. The goal was to create a festival that speaks to the region's culinary tourism and creates an iconic symbol that we can be really proud of," she said.
While there was plenty to do at the by-donation festival, the star of the show was the BC Dungeness Crab Boil, highlighting a Pacific Northwest staple.
Dungeness Crab's primary habitat is the Pacific coast, making it a signature seafood in the region. In 2022, the commercial crab fishery accounted for over 51 per cent of the wholesale value of BC's wild shellfish products, according to Oceans Canada.
For $87 a ticket, festival attendees got to try a one-pound crab bucket along with locally sourced mussels, prawns/shrimp, potatoes and corn.
Bud Sabiston, on the Peninsula Streams and Shoreline board, said the festival was an effective place to educate on the importance of protecting ecosystems and shorelines, which are important spawning places for many species.
"We're all connected here," he said.
Proceeds from door donations supported the Victoria Cool Aid Society and Camosun College. MacLeod noted that all leftover food – approximately 400 pounds of crab – was donated to Cool Aid, providing a special meal for disadvantaged and homeless youth and adults.
Next year, MacLeod plans to host the festival again at Ship Point due to this year's success.
"Mark your calendars because this is something you don't want to miss next year," she said.
