A Full Day by the Harbour

The Experience

Saturday, July 18, 2026 • 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

What's Happening This Year

Crab

Authentic BC Crab Boil

Fresh BC Dungeness crab, cooked on-site and enjoyed dockside.
Seagull

Live Music & Performances

Live bands, DJ sets, and cultural performances from 11 AM to 10 PM.
Shell

Seaside Family Zone

Hands-on creativity and face painting for the littlest crab fans.
Marketplace

Educational Marketplace

Interactive booths celebrating ocean health and coastal food systems.
Chef

Chef Demonstrations

On-site demos by executive chefs celebrating BC food and local harvesters.
Beverages

Local BC Beverages

BC craft beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic options all day.

BC CrabFest is a zero waste event — reusable buckets, five-stream waste diversion, and a dedicated Green Team. Learn about our community impact →

The Authentic BC Crab Boil

A Coastal Tradition

The Authentic BC Crab Boil is prepared on-site using sustainably harvested BC Dungeness crab, SSI 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.

Reserve Your Bucket
BC Crab Boil at BC CrabFest in Victoria's Inner Harbour
Authentic BC Dungeness crab boil served dockside at BC CrabFest
Guests enjoying the BC Crab Boil at Ship Point
Children playing at the Seaside Family Zone at BC CrabFest, Ship Point Victoria
Kids enjoying hands-on crafts and activities at BC CrabFest Family Zone
Families with children having fun at BC CrabFest on the Victoria waterfront

For the Little Ones

Seaside Family Zone

Where creativity, play, and fishers of all ages come together, just steps from the water. Open 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

  • BirdHouse Creative Studio: collaborative murals, sensory water play, crabby crafts, and building blocks
  • Face painting
  • Picnic benches and blankets on the astroturf

This area is presented to you by BirdHouse Creative Studio, a hands-on, process-art studio where experimentation, curiosity and individuality are always encouraged.

Full Schedule

Explore & Learn

Educational Marketplace

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 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Full Schedule
Educational Marketplace at BC CrabFest
Learning about ocean conservation at BC CrabFest
Coastal stewardship displays at the Educational Marketplace
DJ performing at BC CrabFest on the Victoria waterfront
The Salty Singers of MMBC performing at BC CrabFest
Lekwungen Traditional Dancers at BC CrabFest
Adrian Chalifour of Towers and Trees

All Day by the Water

Music & Entertainment

DJ sets, cultural performances, sea shanties, and mandolin live bands keep the harbour energy flowing from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The day closes with sunset drinks by the water with Adrian Chalifour of Towers and Trees, for a very fun, nostalgic session.

Full Schedule

Volunteer & Get Involved

All Hands on Deck

All hands on deck. Join our Green Team, help with the crab boil, or work the box office on event day, we'd love to have you on board.

BC CrabFest volunteers and crew at Ship Point, Victoria
Volunteer With Us Get Involved

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.