11 things to love about Mandurah Crab Fest

Here’s what we’re looking forward to this year:

There’s no doubt that when it comes to delicious delicacies, Crab Fest is a foodie’s heaven. With food stalls as far as the eye can see, you’re sure to find something that tickles your tastebuds. 

Want to take your Crab Fest dining experience to the next level? Who wouldn’t?! This year’s festival has numerous ticketed events for those who want to make their weekend particularly tasty. 

At the High Tea Under the Fig Tree, attendees will be able to enjoy a gourmet high tea under Mandurah’s iconic fig tree – near Stingray Point – by some of the region’s best restaurants. Participants can book as spot in either the Saturday or Sunday event.

The Dinner Under the Stars with Fervor event is a unique pop-up dining experience under the stars by sibling chefs Paul and Bree Iskov. Attendees will enjoy a tasty eight-course degustation meal made with native ingredients. During the event local Bindjareb Aboriginal elders will also share heritage and traditional stories. Tickets are sold out.

At the Crab Boil sea lovers will be able to enjoy a unique meal of crabs, prawns, mussels, clams, sweetcorn, potatoes and smoky sausage overlooking the waters of the marina. The Crab Boil will be held on Saturday.

The Progressive Dinner Cruise is all about enjoying Mandurah’s breathtaking waterways while docking at some of the city’s best eateries for a sample of the local cuisine. Tickets are sold out.

There’s not one but two stellar Australian groups entertaining this year's Crab Fest and the best part? It’s completely free.

Australia’s leading urban/pop group Justice Crew will entertain Saturday evening festival-goers on the Music Stage. The versatile and talented group have a string of hit songs including QueSera, Boom Boom, Best Night, and Everybody.

After three critically-acclaimed studio albums, an acoustic fan favourites record and a swag of classic Australian tracks such as 20 Good Reasons, Emancipate Myself, Someday Someday, Mousetrap Heart and In The Summertime, rock stalwarts Thirsty Merc, will take to the stage on Sunday afternoon.

Saturday's night sky will be filled with colour when the City of Mandurah puts on a breathtaking fireworks show at 8.30pm visible from the newly finished eastern foreshore. 

Right; you’ve got cooking inspiration coming out of your ears, but now you actually need to know how to put that inspiration to good use.

That’s where the Harvey Norman cooking stage comes in to play. 

From 10am Saturday and 11am on Sunday different chefs and Channel 7 personalities will take to the stage, showing budding cooks how to recreate the Crab Fest magic at home. 

Need a little bit more help? This year sees the introduction of the official cook book, The Fish Trap so there’s no excuse not to cook up a storm in the kitchen.

Local artist Emma Blyth once again captured the festival with her unique and colourful style with the official Crab Fest artwork. 

Emma’s inspiration for the 2017 artwork has taken a nostalgic feel, featuring the Old Mandurah Traffic Bridge.

“This year’s work was quite a special piece for me,” Ms Blyth said.

“Mandurah‟s 62-year-old traffic bridge – which locals affectionately refer to as The Old Bridge, is being replaced due to reaching its use-by date.

“I have painted this piece as a classic old bridge memorabilia work using natural colours, gold leaf and of course our good old blue manna crab swimming under it.”

If that doesn’t convince you that art and Crab Fest go hand in hand, the En Plein Air Art Competition will run all weekend long so head down and see what these fantastic artists are creating on the foreshore. 

Take your focus off the food and onto the waterways for a moment – we promise, it will be worth it! 

Fan favourites, the Show Ski WA team will once again strike unimaginable poses and choreographs in Mandurah’s waterways.

The Burswood-based water ski company has put on a water show at Mandurah’s Crab Fest for the last 15 years, with performers ranging in ages from six to 50.

There may be crabs as far as the eye can see but there is none we like more than Clawed the Crab. 

The festival’s mascot has been a key component of the weekend in recent years and now that he’s here, we don’t want him to ever leave! 

When it comes to children’s entertainment, Crab Fest is certainly not in short supply of things to keep the little ones entertained. 

From amusement rides to live shows at the children’s stage, the kids won’t want to leave! 

Being a Mandurah local means you never need an excuse to go crabbing and Crab Fest just reinforces this fact. 

New to town or just looking for a fantastic crabbing spot? Check out our comprehensive guide to crabbing in Mandurah. 

Crabs! It quite literally wouldn’t be Crab Fest without them.