When this community decided to throw a party in homage to a local critter 23 years ago, it settled on the Dungeness crab.

Feisty in spirit and tasty in flesh, the first shellfish to be harvested commercially on the North Coast seemed a natural. Locals and visitors alike could gather once a year to eat crab and other fresh seafood, also enjoying fine spirits, family entertainment and made-in-the-Pacific-Northwest crafts.

Now the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce hosts thousands of people a year at its annual Crab and Seafood Festival, opening Friday and running through Sunday, April 22-24.

Wine vendors serve up tastes of wine and some conversation.”We know there were more than 22,000 people last year,” says Festival Coordinator Laurie Willey, with the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber. “We try to make it a very, very fun event.”

An estimated 300 or more people will volunteer during the festival, not including the parking crews slated to turn out from Camp Rilea, local high schools and the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Posse. The Chamber staff and leadership have been working for months on the festival, which is its largest fund-raiser. Although the official press release for the Crab and Seafood Festival encourages – tongue-in-cheek – festival goers with questions for the Chamber to “ask for anyone who’s crabby,” the Chamber staff are happy and prepared for a great event. Money from the event covers expenses, as well as creates a fund for the Chamber to support community activities. There will be more to see this year, as the 23rd annual Crab and Seafood Festival has expanded to include crab and seafood dinners, Oregon wines and beers and more than 200 booths filled with art and other fine handiwork from throughout the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. The finery includes a one-of-a-kind crab stained glass lamp on display and for sale by Astoria artist Bill W. Dodge. He designed and hand-painted the lamp, while the Heart of Glass Studio in Astoria constructed it under his guidance.

Valentine’s Performing Pigs are sure to draw crowds to the festival’s main stage. Submitted photo.Children can take in Muriel’s Petting Zoo, Clatsop County’s own animal menagerie, throughout the festival. Kids and adults can try their hand at Dungeness crab racing – just don’t get that hand pinched! To participate, just choose a crab at the race area, pay your buck and cheer your crustacean on. The winning crab is the one that breaks through the chute and scuttles down the track and through the finish line before the others. If it’s yours, you’ll take home a little prize.

Adventurous people catch some serious air on a bungee trampoline.Not only will crabs take center stage, but little pigs get in on the act, too. Valentine’s Performing Pigs appear on the Main Stage from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The little porkers spell, jump through hoops and otherwise travel as entertainers around the United States in a motor home with their human attendants. Children also might appreciate a visit from Tiny the Clown, who travels throughout the festival all three days, or a trip through the OMSI traveling museum exhibit. Childcare will be available, for a fee, at the entrance to the main tent.

On Sunday, keep an eye out for Miss Oregon, Brook Roberts, as she strolls the festival to visit and sign autographs.

Katie Killian, nearest, and Christin Pass taste the wine at the fest.Music lovers can catch the local blues group Festival All Stars on the Main Stage from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, Jackson Andrews opens at 10 a.m. and performs until 1 p.m. The Chuck & Dave Show is from 2 to 3:45 p.m. and Gail Gage & The Fabulous 50s performs the music of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and other rockers from 4 to 7:45 p.m. Festival goers are welcome to join in at a sock hop dance. Members of the Lower Columbia Classic Car club will display a few classic cars in the parking lot.

Jamie Williamson, of Port Orchard, Wash., has her caricature drawn by Sam Klemke at last year’s Crab and Seafood Festival.And now, for the culinary delights. You can pair all manner of seafood, from an Astoria Rotary Club crab dinner to a piping hot piece of the Astoria Clowns’ famous shrimp and cheese bread to fresh Willapa Bay oysters to savory salmon with a glass of the best of Oregon wines, a hand-crafted Oregon beer or other tasty beverage. The festival’s annual Wine Competition was held in February at The Cellar on 10th in Astoria, with the Best of Show award going to Valley View Winery for its 2000 Meritage. Eight gold medals were awarded, followed by 15 silvers and 17 bronzes. Those wines, and others, will be available for sale and for tasting for a nominal fee at the festival. Listings of the award-winning wines will be posted throughout the festival.

Crafts, especially the fishy sort, can be perused and purchased at the fest.As always, a commemorative wine glass honoring the festival will be available for sale at the event. It features the Crab and Seafood Festival’s new logo, a jaunty looking Dungeness crab tipping his top hat, and clutching a fork in his claw – perhaps a subliminal message for festivalgoers to get their crab before it runs out! The Chamber recently held a competition to name the little red guy, and thanks to Monica Steel of Astoria Pacific Seafood, “Crusty” it is.

If you go

The 23rd annual Astoria-Warrenton Crab and Seafood Festival takes place Friday through Sunday, April 22-24 at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds in Astoria. The fairgrounds are located four miles southeast of Astoria on Oregon Highway 202.

Festival hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission for adults is $6 Friday and Sunday and $8 Saturday. Seniors age 62 or older pay $4 all days, and children ages 7 to 12 are $1.

You may park at the Fairgrounds on Friday and Sunday for $5, Saturday for $10.

Parking space is limited, however, and shuttles will run from Astoria and Warrenton motels and campgrounds. Parking at the Port of Astoria and Astoria High School will be available Saturday at no charge with regular shuttle service to the Festival. A donation of $1 is suggested for the shuttle.

For information, contact the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce at (503) 325-6311 or (800) 875-6807.