There are a lot of reasons folks make plans to attend the Texas Crab Festival year after year after year – the great music, the multitude of fun events, carnival rides, craft booths, games and contests. But, it’s the food that’s the real star of the show, with the annual Crab Gumbo Cook-Off taking center stage. The Crab Gumbo Cook-Off has been a part of the Texas Crab Festival for most of its 30 year history. Every year, the local restaurants would fight it out in stiff competition for bragging rights to the title. The gumbo was always excellent, but with only so many restaurants in town, participation was limited. So in 2013, in an effort to increase participation, the Texas Crab Festival changed the format of the contest to allow amateur cooks to compete. This coincided with the announcement that same year that the Lone Survivor Foundation was building the Lone Survivor Retreat Facility for military veterans and their families in Crystal Beach. Festival organizers unanimously agreed to donate all proceeds from the Crab Gumbo Cook-Off to this worthy cause. In its first year as a charity event, there were only 5 competitors, but the enthusiasm level had never been higher. The 2014 Charity Crab Gumbo Cook-Off boasted 12 competitors, and a veterans group showed up to support the event. By 11 am Saturday morning, enthusiastic visitors had wiped out the gumbo and more than $2,500 had been raised for the Lone Survivor Foundation.
A group of veterans from the Combat Vets Association came out last year to sample the gumbo and show their support for the cause. They presented a check for $3,000 to the Lone Survivor Foundation.
The 30th Annual Texas Crab Festival in 2015 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet for the Crab Gumbo Cook-Off. With the local support and sponsorship by Laguna Harbor, Seagrass Beach and NewCoast Properties, the Crab Gumbo Cook-Off is expecting 36 competitors this year, and will likely have a live radio feed of the event. The cook-off takes place on Saturday morning as contestants prepare their entries to be judged that afternoon. Visitors can purchase a sample cup for a taste of each competitor’s gumbo, and all proceeds from the ticket sales, entry fees and sponsorship are donated in support of the Lone Survivor Foundation’s Crystal Beach Retreat Facility.
Think you make the best gumbo on the Gulf Coast? Get your team together and put your name in the pot for bragging rights.
In addition to the Crab Gumbo Cook-Off, the Texas Crab Festival offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a variety of crab creations from BBQ Crab to Crab Nachos to Crab Stuffed Jalapenos and more. It’s an experience so deliciously unique, that it was featured on both the Cooking Channel and the Food Network last year. In addition, USA Today named the Crab Gumbo Cook-Off as one of the “10 Best Food Festivals to Dive Into.” Don’t miss your chance to dive into all of the food and fun the Texas Crab Festival has to offer. Mark your calendar for May 8-10, 2015, Mother’s Day Weekend, and start making your plans.
Think you make the best gumbo on the Gulf Coast? Get your team together and put your name in the pot for bragging rights. Contestant spots are filling fast, so don’t wait – act now!
For more information, or to sign up for events, sponsorships, or to volunteer, visit our website at www.texascrabfestival.org. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for the latest exciting news and developments as we move closer to our big 30th Annual Celebration at facebook.com/texascrabfestival.
With the local support and sponsorship by Laguna Harbor, Seagrass Beach and NewCoast Properties, the Crab Gumbo Cook-Off is expecting 36 competitors this year.
(This article published 2/2/2015)
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