Crab Crack promises a good time
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RONAN – A longtime Ronan tradition of good-hearted community fun will be held in Ronan this weekend as the Ronan Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual Crab Crack at Bockman Park.
The crack has been a longtime staple since former Chamber Secretary Carlene Bockman was first mailed a flyer by a crab vendor in 1997. Bockman had been trying to think of ways to highlight the city’s park, which is now named after her.
“They had bibs and stuff and it seemed like fun,” Bockman said of the advertisement.
She asked the Chamber of Commerce members if they would be interested in hosting the event. The chamber approved, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes said they would let Bockman borrow huge fire camp tents.
The big day arrived, but there was one problem – Bockman didn’t know it took more than two days to thaw crab.
“We had the thermostat in my house turned all the way up,” Bockman said of the June day almost two decades ago.
Somehow the crabs got cracked and it was such a hit that the townspeople have come out in droves ever since. The crowd usually tallies in at more than 200 folks.
Over the years, live or disc jockey music and duck races became part of the event. This year’s crab crack will be held at 5 p.m. in the park on Friday, June 19 or in case of rain, the Ronan Fairgrounds Horticulture Barn. Tickets are $30 per person or $10 for children under 10 and are available at Access Montana, NAPA, Community Bank, Valley Bank, Ronan Flower Mill, Polson First Interstate Bank and Ronan Power Products.
“We’ll be there until the crab is gone,” Bockman said.
Chamber member Ronna Walchuk said it is always a good time.
“It’s so much fun,” Walchuk said. “Everyone loves it.”
