The 2019 edition of the St. Marks Stone Crab Festival is almost here! This year’s edition will be held on Saturday, October 26 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM in the quaint fishing village of St. Marks. If you’re a seafood fanatic, or if you just love spending a beautiful fall day having fun with your family and friends, then this is a must-see event!
It’s time to get crackin’
You can be certain that fall has arrived on the Florida gulf coast when the stone crab claws start coming in fresh from the fishing boats. That’s because the stone crab claw season is strictly regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the crab claws can only be legally harvested from mid-October through mid-May every year.
Harvesters are only allowed to cut one claw off of a stone crab, and then they must return the crab to the water where it is free to regrow the claw in its natural habitat. These facts make stone crab claws among the most sustainable seafood in the Florida waters!
Savor fresh, delicious crab, and enjoy a day of fall fun
At the stone crab festival, you’ll have plenty of chances to savor this fantastic delicacy, because a variety of food vendors will be on hand to prepare a fresh taste of the gulf for you. There’s nothing quite like enjoying freshly cooked crab claws on a beautiful autumn day, just a short distance from where they were caught.
Eating delicious seafood is far from the only thing to do at the festival, however. Several live musicians will be performing throughout the morning and afternoon, providing you with the perfect background sounds for a day of family fun. The kids in your group can partake in some of the children’s activities, and there will be several educational displays for anyone who wants to learn more about the importance of stone crabs to our ecosystem, and the Gulf of Mexico aquaculture as a whole. And no community festival would be complete without some great crafts and artisan products from the area’s finest local vendors, so make sure to pick up something to remind you of your visit.
Dig deeper into our local seafood and natural areas
The St. Marks Stone Crab Festival is a great introduction to all the natural wonders of our region, but it’s just the beginning. Whether you want to sample more fresh, local seafood, learn about the marine ecosystems of the area, or embark on your own fishing journey, an abundance of natural adventures awaits you. Visit our accommodations page today to find the perfect place to stay during the Stone Crab Festival, and then explore Wakulla County even further.
