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 gathering celebrating BC waters, coastal foodways, and the communities connected to them. Set along Victoria's Inner Harbour at Ship Point, the festival is anchored around the BC Dungeness Crab Boil - the star attraction that brings people together to crack fresh crab, enjoy local seafood, and experience the coastal foodways that connect people to BC waters.
From chef demonstrations and coastal storytelling to family activities and local drinks, BC CrabFest is a day for locals and visitors to slow down by the water and celebrate the food, traditions, and ocean stewardship that shape life along BC's coast.
Presented by BC Crab Co., a family-run seafood business founded by commercial fishing families committed to getting sustainably harvested BC Dungeness crab to the people who love it most.
BC CrabFest 2026
Saturday, July 18, 2026 • 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
More crab, more music, more fun. Here's what we're bringing to the harbour this year.
The star attraction and heart of BC CrabFest. Fresh, sustainably harvested BC Dungeness crab, mussels, potatoes, corn, baguette, and Canadian butter - cooked on-site by a team of executive chefs. Choose from Signature or Mini buckets with your preferred pickup window.
DJ sets, cultural performances, shanty choirs, and live bands keep the harbour energy flowing between crab boil pickups from 11 AM to 10 PM.
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, food systems, and coastal stewardship through interactive booths from organizations like SeaChange Marine Conservation, T. Buck Suzuki, and more.
Watch executive chefs David Lang, Paul Stewart, Chris Hammer, and Scott Doust share coastal cooking techniques and celebrate Canadian food culture live on-site.
Sip your way through the day with BC craft offerings from Driftwood Brewery, Sea Cider, Blue Grouse, and Spinnakers non-alc options.
BC CrabFest is committed to reducing waste. Bring your own Tupperware to take leftovers home! Through our partnership with Friendlier and with support from the CRD Zero Waste Grant, we're using reusable containers, a four-stream waste diversion system, and a volunteer Green Team to keep our harbour clean.
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 BC Crab Boil
For generations, fishing families along BC's coast have gathered around freshly harvested seafood - cracking crab, sharing stories, and celebrating the waters that sustain them. The BC Crab Boil carries that tradition forward, bringing the spirit of a coastal gathering to Victoria's Inner Harbour.
Each BC Crab Boil Bucket is prepared on-site by a team of executive chefs using sustainably harvested BC Dungeness crab, BC mussels, local potatoes, corn on the cob, fresh baguette, and Canadian butter with lemon and seasoning. It's the kind of meal that brings people together - messy hands, good conversation, and the taste of the Pacific.
Choose from the Signature or Mini bucket, pick your window, and settle in at the harbour. This is what a BC summer tastes like.
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.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
Plan Your Day
Saturday, July 18, 2026 • 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
BC CrabFest runs from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Pick your BC Crab Boil Bucket pickup window, reserve a Captain's Table, and enjoy the full day of programming.
| 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 accessible general admission to the ultimate VIP harbour experience. Tickets launch March 26 on Showpass.
Per bucket • Includes GA admission
Per bucket • Includes GA admission
Per table, seats up to 8 • 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 festival programming, culinary education, and community food access 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
We built this festival to give back. Here are the three areas we're committed to supporting every year.
Supporting food access and community care by helping ensure good food reaches more tables. Gate donations support partners such as The Mustard Seed, 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.
Supporting organizations working to steward BC waters and coastal ecosystems while promoting sustainable seafood and ocean literacy through the Educational Marketplace.
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.
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 has larger portions than the Mini. 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! There will be two other food vendors onsite.
Guest donations support festival programming, culinary education through partners like Camosun College's Culinary Arts Program, and community food access through organizations like The Mustard Seed.
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 everything we love about this coast: good food, good company, and that unbeatable BC summer feeling.
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.
