Crab Fest relocates, nets huge crowd
Linda Sappington
Although 6-year-old Derek Walker of Charlo has never eaten crab before Friday, he quickly learns how to extract the tasty meat.
Linda Sappington
Crowds managed to eat a total of 640 pounds of Alaskan Snow Crab. This was the first time the event didn't have leftover crab for participants to purchase..
Linda Sappington
Alaskan Snow Crab legs disappear as fast as participants can grab them from the cooling trough.
Linda Sappington
All-you-can-eat crab barely fits on the plate, and a pile of napkins are essential.
Linda Sappington
Volunteer crab cooker Jack Fay dishes up the delicacies from a boiling vat of water.
Linda Sappington
Roxy Coleman-Herak grabs some crab at the bi-annual fest.
Linda Sappington
Friends gather around large tables inside the east hall of the Lake County Fairgrounds.
Linda Sappington
Participants were advised to bring their own utensil to crack crab, and a variety of tools did the job.
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Where in the world would folks wait in line for food with more than 275 people and not get crabby?
And wait two years to crab?
Ronan’s Crab Fest, that’s where.
The unprecedented crowd grabbed 640 pounds of crab for $20 bucks a plate Friday night at the Lake County Fairgrounds, according to Ronna Walchuk, Ronan Chamber of Commerce organizer.
“It was huge this year,” Walchuk said.
So huge that they ran out of crab. Most years people purchase the leftovers to take home.
“Some people were disappointed that there was none to sell, but that’s not our main goal. It ended well,” she said.
Usually the Ronan Parks fundraiser takes place in the lush grasses alongside Spring Creek in Bockman Park, but with weather reports threatening a downpour, organizers relocated the event last minute to the horticulture hall at the fairgrounds.
Still, the crowds poured in for the steaming crustacean delicacy.
Volunteer Jack Fay patiently kept up with the demand, scooping Alaskan Snow Crab legs from a pot of boiling water and tossing them on ice to cool — maybe three seconds — before hungry hands snatched them from the ice-filled trough.
Outside on the lawn, families gathered in circles, tossing the inedible crab parts in the center as if throwing logs on a fire.
In the family-like atmosphere inside the hall, neighbors, families and strangers shared tables and laughter, teaching youngsters the fine art of crab cracking. Participants brought their own utensils to extract the crabmeat — tools ranging from dental picks to walnut crushers to crescent wrenches.
Mountains of buttery napkins made unspoken compliments to the chef of the ultimate finger food.
The bi-annual event runs every odd year and raises money for whatever the Ronan Parks department needs. This year’s total wasn’t available yet.
And those patient participants will have to remain patient, because the next Crab Fest won’t be show up until June 2015. If Friday’s crowd was an indicator, it will be worth the wait.
