Kodiak Crab Festival
Originally known as the King Crab Festival, this festival began in 1958 to market a new industry: King Crab, which was not a famous or well-known food at the time. As the King Crab’s popularity declined, and other crabs were getting recognized in Kodiak, the “King” was dropped off the festival name and later became “Kodiak Crab Festival.” Though there are times were the crab food abundance may be less, the festival name has remained for historical reasons.
The Kodiak Chamber of Commerce annually hosts this festival to benefit Kodiak, Alaska’s residents. The Kodiak Crab Festival is a chance for the community to celebrate the rich resources they receive from the sea.
This Kodiak Crab Festival is also intended to boost tourism for Kodiak business people and local non-profit organizations to boost their business/organizations and assist as a fundraising opportunity to raise revenues.
The Chamber of Commerce, Crab Festival Manager, and the Crab Festival Committee intend to provide a wide variety of family-friendly activities to provide every visitor with a festive and fun recreational outlet.
This festival is held from Thursday to Sunday and ends on Memorial Day. This five days festival is peppered with traditional tournaments, quirky games, races, and competitions. Locally, the Kodiak Crab Festival symbolizes winter’s end and the highly anticipated return of summer, bringing salmon runs, long days, and lots of fun.
- Crab Festival Art Show
- Kodiak Fish Toss
- Marathon & Half Marathon
- The Norm Holm Survival Suit Race: a race down the dock to put on the survival suits and swim into a life raft through the harbor.
- Crab Fest Parade: Old cars, military, Harleys, 4H, and school bands -Saturday morning-
- Coast Guard Demonstration: Showcases a coast guard job in the harbor; it features helicopters and rescue swimmers
- Blessing of the fleet: This tradition is open to all vessels. An Orthodox priest sprinkles every passing vessel with Holy Water.