Get cracking
Louisbourg Crab Fest begins tonight
Louisbourg Crab Fest begins tonight.
Seafood will be served up with a smile over the next two days in one of Cape Breton’s busiest fishing villages.
Louisbourg Crab Fest weekend is here and the food, music and festivities get underway tonight at 7:30 p.m. with fresh mussels being served while quantities last. And then on Saturday, crab dinners will be sold throughout the day, also while quantities last.
In addition to the seafood options, the festival features a full schedule of music with local performers and bands taking the stage throughout the twoday event. A refreshment tent, canteen facilities, souvenirs and merchandise will also be available during the festival. Kids activities and face painting will take place on Saturday afternoon starting at 1 p.m.
This is the 24th year for Crab Fest.
“When we first started we didn’t think it would go one year, let alone 24,” said organizing committee member Leo Carter, who has been involved with the event from the start. “It’s been a good time and it helps our community out.”
Crab Fest is a major fundraiser for the Louisbourg Volunteer Fire Department, and the event’s organizing committee also make donations to other community organizations each year.
Carter said the whole community really pitches in to make the event a success, noting approximately 100 volunteers will help serve and accommodate the thousands of people expected to attend Crab Fest.
“We’ll serve between 1,300 and 1,500 (crab) dinners on Saturday and we go through 700 pounds of mussels Friday night,” he said. “We’ll have anywhere from 1,000 to 1,400 people Friday night, and through the day Saturday we (typically) have close to 4,000 people in and out.”
Cindy Hynes, a program coordinator with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s recreation department, has also been a member of the organizing committee since the event’s beginnings in 1993.
“It’s hard to believe next year will be our 25th,” she said. “We really enjoy it, it’s great being part of the committee and working with the community. It’s quite a community endeavour. We couldn’t do it without the sponsors, the volunteers and everybody involved. It’s a great event and I love being involved.”