Come out of your shell and get a little crabby with an Eastern Shore Labor Day Tradition spanning nearly eight decades. It’s the 79th Annual Hard Crab Derby, running this extended weekend.
The initial “derby” event began in 1947 as the brainchild of newspaper editor Egbert L. Quinn. It served a creative purpose to pay tribute to the local seafood industry while also boosting tourism after World War II. The result was a unique, fun, and festive offering to take part in and an undeniable crowd-pleaser.
The first races were all good-natured, informal affairs involving energetic, just-caught crabs provided by watermen. Popularity for these crowd-drawing races heightened throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, allowing for the addition of more featured follies, including a crab-picking contest and even a parade. Since the derby’s earlier inception, things have expanded even further.
This year’s event is especially grand as it coincides with America’s 250th anniversary. Each day packs plenty of exciting offerings, including concerts and contests galore! Kick off the weekend early, on Thursday, September 3, with a concert by Alter Ego from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Be sure to make your way over to Somerset Intermediate School by 9 a.m. on Friday, September 4, for the highly anticipated Crab Cooking Contest. The main event grounds open at 4 p.m., with carnival attractions starting at 5 p.m. and remaining in full swing through 10 p.m. The National Anthem will be sung at 5 p.m. as well. Topping off the evening is a concert featuring Smitty between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Things start bright and early on Saturday, September 5, kicking off with the Mike Sterling 10/5K Races at City Dock at 7:30 a.m. Swim Team races commence at 8:30 a.m. at the Marina Pool. Racing crabs will be available for purchase starting at 9 a.m., live and on-site on the event grounds. Be sure to stick around for the parade down Main Street at 11 a.m.
The event grounds will officially open to the public with all intended operations by noon. This is also when carnival festivities commence. At 12:30 p.m., the famed Skiff Races begin on location at Wellington Beach. Parade winners will be announced at this time, also at the Crab Bowl Stage
The stage will then play host to two highly acclaimed, long-awaited events. They are the Crab Picking Event at 1 p.m. and the starring attraction—Crab Races at 2:30 p.m. Be sure to stick around for a concert headlined by Eric Tobiassen and the Jovon Newman Band between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Sunday celebrations continue on September 6, with the grounds opening early at 8:30 a.m. Take part in the Festival Worship service from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and watch the Boat Docking at Crisfield City Dock live and in action at noon.
The live viewing party on the grounds can be found at the Crab Bowl Stage. The carnival will open at noon and remain in effect through 9 p.m. Also, take note of the Johnny “Cash” Barnett Band Concert, running from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The sweetest sendoff for the night will, of course, be those fabulous fireworks.
If you’ve never attended a Hard Crab Derby yourself, this year provides the perfect opportunity to get going on starting a new tradition that your family can rightly take to. Races, contests, and all corresponding events associated with the grand occasion are made possible by the Crisfield Area Chamber of Commerce. For all other information, visit the website at www.nationalhardcrabderby.com.