WEST POINT – The West Point Crab Carnival, one of Virginia’s longest-running fall festivals, postponed earlier this month, will kick off Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with a bicycle race.
Children ages 3 through 5th grade can participate in the Tour de Crab Kids Bike Race, which benefits the West Point Elementary School PBIS Committee.
On-site registration will begin at 8 a.m. and the entry fee is $5 per rider.
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Originally postponed due to inclement weather caused by Hurricane Ian, the 40th West Point Crab Festival is back for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic shut it down.
For the festival, which has brought as many as 10,000 people to the streets of West Point in previous years, Town Park will be transformed into a children’s area with bounce houses, balloon creations and face painting.
Military trucks will also be on display and guests are asked to bring toys for the Cornerstone Community Development Center’s Toys for Tots collection.
Festival-goers can enjoy a variety of foods, including — of course — crab cakes, frozen treats, ice cream, kettle corn and hamburgers, and can purchase goods from nearly 90 artisan vendors.
Steam crabs can be purchased between 8th and 9th streets in the City Hall parking lot; select vendors will also have crab cakes and crab sandwiches available.
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There will be live musical performances by Luke Bobbitt from 10:00am to 1:00pm and Julius Ray Pittman from 2:30-5:30pm in the West Point Town Hall parking lot.
A beer garden will be located between streets 8 and 9. Beer can only be consumed between streets 6 and 9.
The parade, which begins at 1 p.m., will take place on Main Street from 1st to 10th Streets and will include performers, bands, drill teams, martial artists, ROTC members, dance, cheer, ninja and gymnastics teams , grades, vehicles, clubs. , schools, scouts and animals.
The festival will close with fireworks at 19:30
Free event parking will be located in the WestRock Paper Mill parking lots on 18th Street. A shuttle is also available on 11th Street for $5 per person.
For more information on the Crab Carnival, visit: www.westpointvachamber.com/crabcarnival.
Amy Jo Martin, [email protected]
