By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews
YAHATS — A highlight of Yachats’ winter season cracks open Saturday when the Yachats Lions Club’s annual Crab Feed takes place.
Three seatings will accommodate crab-lovers this year — at the Yachats Commons at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., and at the Lions Hall at 4 p.m. The 4 p.m. seating at the Commons will be for groups of six or more with reserved tables.
The meals cost $50 with the option to buy extra crab at $30 each. The meal includes one whole local Dungeness crab, coleslaw, baked beans and homemade bread. Beverages include soda, coffee, tea and water – but diners are welcome to bring their own alcoholic beverages.
The crab feed is the Yachats Lion Club’s largest fundraising event of the year.
“It’s a very big party for everybody,” said event coordinator Kevin Yorks. “We get great support from the community and local businesses in Yachats, Waldport and Newport.”
The crabs are purchased, cleaned and cooked by South Beach Fish Market.
Tickets for the meal are available for sale online only on the club’s web page. Diners may order as many meals as they like.
Prices have gone up $5 per meal from last year’s event because “the price of crab keeps on escalating,” said Yorks. “We always talk to South Beach Fish Market before setting prices, and demand is very high.”
He noted that crabs harvested this year are “super big and super full.” The fundraiser used to be an all-you-can-eat affair, but to do that today “We’d have to charge too much,” he said.
Crab-lovers come from Oregon, Washington, and as far away as Minnesota to enjoy the dinner, which has been a popular event for over 30 years.
“We have folks that plan their vacations around the feed,” said Yorks.
He predicted that the 4 p.m. seating at the Commons for groups of six or more “will sell out,” but that the 12:30 p.m. seating will probably have tickets available close to the event day.
Students at Angell Job Corps will be helping with seating and serving. “People leave a lot of tips for the kids,” Yorks said. The Corps helps disadvantaged youth train and re-train for jobs.
Marking over 73 years of service to Yachats and South Lincoln County, the Lions Club has been staging the Crab Feed to fund its roster of community service projects. These include scholarships to graduating seniors, food pantries, school programs, Yachats Youth and Family Services, South Lincoln Resources, and eyeglasses and exams for children and adults.
- For more information email lionscrabfeed2024@gmail.com.
