We can't wait until the 79th National Hard Crab Derby this Labor Day Weekend 2026 celebrating America's 250th with special exhibits and events!
Stay tuned and check back for updates!
All events are free with gate admission ($1.00/person) with the exception of concerts, boat docking and carnival rides which require special tickets (available online and/or at the event's gate).


 

The derby began in 1947, created by newspaper editor Egbert L. Quinn to celebrate the local seafood industry and boost tourism after World War II. In the first years of the derby, local watermen brought their most energetic crabs to compete in simple races held in a chalk-drawn circle on the street where crabs would start in the middle and the first one to escape the circle won. These early races were informal and humorous, but they quickly drew large crowds. As the festival grew in popularity during the 1950s–1970s, organizers improved the racing setup with a sloped track in the main race area called the “Crab Bowl.” This more structured system allowed hundreds of entries and multiple rounds leading to a final champion. One of the most famous competitions added to the derby was the Governor’s Cup crab race featuring crabs representing all 50 states! The races represent more than entertainment—they symbolize the waterman heritage of Crisfield and entering a crab in the derby is a generational tradition.

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The Crab Picking Contest at the National Hard Crab Derby in Crisfield is one of the festival’s longest-running competitions and celebrates the skill of professional seafood workers who pick meat from steamed Blue Crab. The crab picking competition began in 1963, when organizers added events that highlighted the real work of Chesapeake Bay seafood processing. The contest reflects the tradition of crab pickers in Crisfield’s seafood packing houses, where workers, mostly African American women, spent hours extracting meat by hand, while singing gospel, for shipping across the country. The contest works by having contestants pick as much meat from steamed crabs as possible in 15 minutes. The meat is weighed at the end, and the heaviest totals win prizes. Most contestants historically have been local seafood workers, many of whom pick crabs professionally and often use small knives and specific hand techniques to remove meat quickly without breaking shells into the meat.

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The parade at the National Hard Crab Derby is one of the festival’s most visible and festive events, showcasing the town’s pride in its crab heritage and watermen culture. While the National Hard Crab Derby began in 1947, the parade became a staple event in the 1950s and 1960s as the festival grew. Organizers wanted to draw more visitors to Crisfield during Labor Day weekend, showcase local businesses, schools, and community groups and celebrate Crisfield’s identity as the “Crab Capital of the World”.

The parade allowed locals and visitors to experience the town’s culture in a festive, family-friendly way. Today, the parade usually takes place on Main Street in Crisfield and includes marching bands, floats and decorated vehicles from local businesses and organizations many featuring crab and seafood themes, or watermen motifs competing for the “Best Float” award.