Okay, so this weekend, I hit up the Astoria-Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival. I’d heard about it for years, and finally decided to make the trek. Gotta say, it was a bit of a whirlwind!
First off, finding parking was an adventure in itself. I circled the block like, five times before I snagged a spot a few blocks away. Note to self: next year, arrive super early or consider a shuttle if they have one.
Once I got inside, woah, the smells! Fresh crab, buttery garlic, some kind of amazing chowder… my stomach immediately started rumbling. I wandered around for a bit, just soaking it all in. So many booths! It was a little overwhelming, but in a good way.
The Grub
- Crab, obviously: I devoured a whole Dungeness crab. Messy? Absolutely. Worth it? 100%. They had these little mallets and bibs, and everyone was just going to town on these crabs. It was awesome.
- Seafood Galore: I sampled some oyster shooters (not my favorite, a little slimy), and I grabbed a shrimp cocktail that was pretty good.
- Wine: They had tons of local wineries offering tastings. I’m not a huge wine person, but I tried a couple of whites that were surprisingly crisp and refreshing.
- Other Stuff: There were also booths with non-seafood stuff, like kettle corn and crafts. I picked up a cute little handmade sea glass necklace.
The lines for the most popular food booths were insane. I mean, seriously long. I waited in line for what felt like forever to get that crab, but like I said, totally worth it. I chatted with some folks in line, and everyone was in a good mood, just excited about the food and the atmosphere.
There was live music playing, which added to the festive vibe. I didn’t really know the bands, but it was fun background noise while I was munching on my crab and people-watching.
Honestly, by the end of the day, I was stuffed and exhausted. My fingers smelled like crab, my feet ached, and I was probably a little sunburnt. But it was such a fun experience. I definitely plan on going back next year, but I’ll be better prepared – earlier arrival, maybe a bigger cooler for leftovers, and definitely more comfortable shoes!
