Ship Point • Inner Harbour Victoria, BC
Saturday, July 18, 2026 • 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
A Harbour Celebration of Food, Music & Ocean Stories.
A Victoria Harbour Tradition
...in the making.
Now in its fourth year, BC CrabFest is a one-day harbour celebration of BC waters, coastal food traditions, and the communities connected to them. Set at Ship Point in Victoria's Inner Harbour, the festival is anchored in the Authentic BC Dungeness Crab Boil — a shared, hands-on meal cooked on-site and enjoyed dockside, at its freshest, surrounded by the people and place it comes from.
From live music and chef demonstrations to an Educational Marketplace, Seaside Family Zone, and local BC drinks, BC CrabFest connects guests to coastal food traditions, fishing families, and the rhythms of life on the water. This isn't just a food event — it's a harbour tradition in the making.
Presented by BC Crab Co., a family-run seafood business founded by commercial fishing families committed to sharing sustainably harvested BC Dungeness crab with local communities.
BC CrabFest 2026
Saturday, July 18, 2026 • 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
A full day by the harbour, built around one of BC's most defining coastal food experiences. Pre-order your BC Crab Boil and build your day around it.
The anchor of BC CrabFest. A generous, hands-on meal featuring fresh, sustainably harvested BC Dungeness crab, BC mussels, potatoes, corn, baguette, and Canadian butter with lemon and seasoning — cooked on-site by top executive chefs and shared dockside. Choose the Signature or Mini bucket and your preferred pickup window. Quantities are limited and they will sell out.
DJ sets, cultural performances, shanty choirs, and live bands keep the harbour energy flowing from 11 AM to 10 PM, ending with sunset drinks by the water.
Hands-on creativity, face painting, bubble shows, children's book readings, and a musical undersea tale. Fun for the littlest crab fans from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Explore ocean health, coastal food systems, and stewardship of BC waters through interactive booths from organizations working in ocean literacy, sustainable seafood, and coastal communities.
Our 2026 culinary program is led on-site by Executive Chefs David Lang (Camosun College Culinary Arts), Paul Stewart (Food Day Canada), Chris Hammer (Mustard Seed), and Scott Doust (Sysco Canada), each celebrating Canadian food culture and local harvesters.
Sip your way through the day with local BC offerings from Driftwood Brewery, Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, Blue Grouse Winery, and non-alcoholic sodas and beverages from Spinnakers.
Reducing waste and protecting our coast is part of how we run BC CrabFest. With support from the CRD Zero Waste Grant, we're using reusable Crab Boil buckets (Tupperware-style containers), a five-stream waste diversion system, and a dedicated Green Team helping guests sort correctly and keep more materials out of landfill.
Last Year
Year 3 blew us away. Here's what made it one to remember.
Over 15,000 guests coming from across the island and beyond, with attendance growing every year.
Every single BC Crab Boil Bucket sold, each packed with fresh BC Dungeness crab cooked on-site.
From traditional dancers to fiddle orchestras and DJ sets keeping the harbour buzzing.
A new waterfront home at Ship Point brought stunning views and a vibrant festival atmosphere.
The Authentic BC Crab Boil
The Authentic BC Crab Boil is prepared on-site using sustainably harvested BC Dungeness crab, BC mussels, local potatoes, corn on the cob, fresh baguette, and Canadian butter with lemon and seasoning. Roll up your sleeves, crack into the crab, and share it by the water — this is how people have gathered on the coast for generations.
For the Little Ones
Where creativity, play, and fishers of all ages come together, just steps from the water. Open 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM.
Explore & Learn
Discover the stories behind BC's oceans, seafood, and coastal communities. The Educational Marketplace brings together organizations working in ocean literacy, sustainable seafood, and coastal stewardship - offering hands-on learning for all ages. Open 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM.
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Plan Your Day
Saturday, July 18, 2026 • 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
BC CrabFest runs from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pre-order your BC Crab Boil and build your day around a shared meal in the harbour — pick your pickup window, reserve a Captain's Table, and spend the day by the water.
| Time | Event | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 11:00 - 2:30 | Lunch Crab Boil Pickup Window | Kitchen |
| 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Captain's Table - Lunch Seating | Captain's Table |
| 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM | Captain's Table - Early Afternoon Seating | Captain's Table |
| 2:30 - 5:30 | Afternoon Crab Boil Pickup Window | Kitchen |
| 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Captain's Table - Late Afternoon Seating | Captain's Table |
| 5:30 - 8:00 | Harbour Dinner Boil Pickup Window | Kitchen |
| 6:15 PM – 8:15 PM | Captain's Table - Sunset Seating | Captain's Table |
Tickets & Buckets
From donation-based general admission to the Authentic BC Crab Boil and a reserved waterfront Captain's Table. Early access is limited — plan ahead.
Per bucket • Includes 1 General Admission
Per bucket • Includes 1 General Admission
Per table, 4–8 guests • Limited availability
BC CrabFest is an accessible harbour celebration with pay-what-you-can donation-based entry. Suggested donations range from $0 to $20. Your contribution supports food access, culinary education, and ocean stewardship initiatives. Learn about our Community Impact.
Get Your BC CrabFest Ticket on ShowpassThank You
BC CrabFest is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, funders, and community partners.
More Than a Meal
BC CrabFest supports food access, culinary education, and the stewardship of BC waters — the three areas we're committed to every year.
A portion of voluntary entrance donations is directed to Mustard Seed to support local food access and food security in Greater Victoria, and unused festival food is redirected to community meal programs.
Supporting culinary learning and the next generation of food leaders through partnerships with Camosun College's Culinary Arts Program, where students gain hands-on experience preparing local seafood and participating in a large-scale community event.
Supporting stewardship of BC waters and coastal ecosystems, and elevating ocean literacy and sustainable seafood through our Educational Marketplace and on-site programming.
Our Impact Partners
Join the Crew
BC CrabFest is powered by passionate volunteers. Whether you want to join our Green Team, help with the crab boil, or support on event day, we'd love to have you on board.
Getting There
Got Questions?
BC CrabFest takes place at Ship Point in Victoria's Inner Harbour (812 Wharf St, Victoria, BC V8W 1T3). It's as centrally located as you can get, right on the waterfront.
The live event runs from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The kitchen operates from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The Seaside Family Zone and Educational Marketplace run from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Sunset beverages run from 8:00 to 10:00 PM (no kitchen).
No! General admission is donation-based. You can enjoy the live music, entertainment, Educational Marketplace, and Family Zone without purchasing a BC Crab Boil Bucket. BC Crab Boil Bucket purchases include admission for the day.
Each bucket features fresh BC Dungeness crab, BC mussels, BC potatoes, corn on the cob, fresh baguette, and melted Canadian butter with lemon and seasoning. The Signature bucket includes 2 BC Dungeness Crab clusters; the Mini includes 1 cluster with smaller portions of all the sides. You can also add on extra crab clusters, mussels, or extra butter and baguette.
When you purchase your BC Crab Boil Bucket, you select one of three pickup windows: Lunch (11:00 AM - 2:30 PM), Afternoon (2:30 PM - 5:30 PM), or Harbour Dinner (5:30 PM - 8:00 PM). You're welcome to arrive early or stay after your pickup to enjoy the full day of programming.
The Captain's Table is a VIP dining experience at the tip of Ship Point pier. Your group gets a reserved waterfront table seating up to 8, a family-style crab boil delivered to your table, welcome drinks, and 2 hours of reserved seating with harbour views. 30 total tables for the day.
BC CrabFest 2026 is on a Saturday. Paid parking is available at downtown parkades - check the City of Victoria's parking map for locations and rates. You can also take public transit (multiple routes run through downtown), bike (free covered bike parking at parkades and a free Bike Valet on-site), arrive by BC Ferries, Harbour Air, or take the Clipper from Seattle.
The Crab Boil is prepared without gluten-containing ingredients, except for the optional bread added at the end. However, cross-contamination cannot be guaranteed. This is not a certified gluten-free meal. The bucket contains shellfish (crab, mussels), corn, potatoes, dairy (butter), and various seasonings.
Yes! Beyond the BC Crab Boil, we'll have additional food onsite including hot dogs, fries, and frozen treats.
General Admission is by donation and supports festival programming, culinary education through partners like Camosun College's Culinary Arts Program, and food access and food security initiatives through Mustard Seed in Greater Victoria.
BC Ferries - The most common route from Vancouver is Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. Book in advance if you're travelling with a vehicle. From Swartz Bay, take Bus 70 or 72 for direct service to downtown Victoria. bcferries.com
Harbour Air - Float plane service connecting the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Salt Spring Island, Whistler, and Seattle. harbourair.com
Car Parking - Paid parking is available at downtown parkades. Check the City of Victoria's parking map for locations and rates.
Bike Parking - Free covered bike parking is available at parkades throughout the downtown core, plus a free Bike Valet on-site.
Clipper - The Victoria Clipper offers passenger ferry service between Seattle and Victoria's Inner Harbour. clippervacations.com
Public Transit - Many routes run through downtown Victoria. See the BC Transit website for routes and schedules.
It's a full BC Crab Feast. If you're hungry, you'll eat it. If you want a snack, go for the Mini.
Yes! BC CrabFest is an outdoor harbourfront event and well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome.
Follow the Fest
A look at the harbour in full swing. Follow us on Instagram for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and all things CrabFest.
About the Organizers
BC Crab Co. is a family-run seafood business founded by commercial fishing families committed to sharing sustainably harvested BC Dungeness crab with local communities. The company sells live crab directly to consumers at Fisherman's Wharf in Victoria, connecting people with fresh seafood and the fishing families behind the catch.
Through initiatives like BC CrabFest, BC Crab Co. celebrates coastal foodways and strengthens connections between the public and the waters that sustain BC's seafood.
BC CrabFest is our way of celebrating the waters, people, and practices that sustain life on this coast — simple, generous, and grounded in place.
BC Crab Co. runs direct-to-community crab sales at Fisherman's Wharf in Victoria. Locals and visitors can buy live BC Dungeness crab straight from the boats. Fresh, local, and supporting BC fishing families. Check our schedule for upcoming dockside sales throughout the spring and summer.
Join us in celebrating the coast, the catch, and the people who make it all possible. Learn more about BC Crab Co.
We acknowledge that BC CrabFest takes place on the traditional, unceded territories of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, including the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and within the wider coastal territories of neighbouring Nations. These waters have been cared for and sustained for generations. We recognize that our work exists because of these waters, and we are committed to showing respect through how we gather, share food, and support stewardship of the coast.
