National Hard Crab Derby

National Hard Crab Derby

Next date: September 6, 2025 7:00 pm

Pre-registration is highly recommended

If you don’t mind the 3 hour drive from DC, you can step back in time and enjoy a small town experience.  The Crisfield National Hard Crab Derby is a Labor Day weekend tradition that has been running for over 70 years. The event celebrates the town’s rich crabbing history and culture, and features a variety of activities, including crab races, crab cooking and picking contests, crafts, live entertainment, beauty pageants, a parade, and fireworks.

The crab picking contest is another popular attraction. Contestants compete to see who can pick the most crab meat in the shortest amount of time.

The derby is also a great opportunity to sample some of the best seafood in Maryland. There are dozens of food vendors selling everything from crab cakes to fried oysters. And of course, no visit to Crisfield would be complete without trying a few hard crabs.

The Crisfield National Hard Crab Derby is a fun-filled event for the whole family. It’s a great way to celebrate Labor Day weekend and learn about the town’s rich crabbing history.