Claws for celebration – crab feed season is here

Though crab season runs through June or July, crustacean lovers know that the early months – January, February and March – are prime cracking time. And there are a lot of crab lovers, as is evident through the number of feeds held in and near Stanislaus County, drawing thousands of people for messy but tasty meals.

Several seafood companies supply Dungeness crab trapped off the West Coast for the feeds, which tend to be all-you-can-eat affairs and include sides such as salad, pasta and bread. Many of them are fundraisers for service clubs, church groups, schools and more.

Following are many of the crab feasts and related festivities coming up in the area over the next month:

▪ CRAB FEED AND DANCING – Friday, 4 p.m. doors; 6:30 p.m. dinner. SOS Club, 819 Sunset Ave., Modesto. $40 members; $45 nonmembers. (209) 578-5801.

▪ CRAB FEED – Saturday, Soroptimist International of Twain Harte annual all-you-can-eat crab feed fundraiser, featuring family-style service. Box raffle and door prize. 4:30 p.m., doors; 5:30 to 7 p.m. dinner. Tuolumne Veterans Memorial Hall, 18375 Fir Ave., Tuolumne. $40. (209) 928-1616.

▪ CRAB FEED AND TRI-TIP DINNER – Saturday, cocktails and antipasto, crab and tri-tip dinner accompanied by pasta with garlic bread and salad. Raffle. 6 p.m. Tuolumne River Lodge, 2429 River Road, Modesto. $45. (209) 531-3235.

▪ CRAB FEED DINNER AND DANCE – Saturday, Modesto Portuguese Pentecost Association marinated crab feed dinner and dance. 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. California Ballroom, 432 Sixth St., Modesto. $45. (209) 505-3624.

▪ CRAB CIOPPINO DINNER AND DANCE – Jan. 24, Modesto Portuguese Pentecost Association crab cioppino dinner and dance. 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. California Ballroom, 432 Sixth St., Modesto. $45. (209) 505-3624.

▪ CRAB FEED – Jan. 24, St. Anthony’s School sixth annual crab feed. Wine and cheese tasting, no-host bar, dancing. Adult-only event. 6 to 11 p.m. $50. St. Anthony’s School gymnasium, 323 N. Fremont Ave. Manteca. (209) 823-4513.

▪ CRABFEST – Feb. 6-7, 21st annual crabfest with all-you-can-eat crab. Dancing to Livin’, raffle. Takeout available, $30. 5:30 p.m. to midnight. Howard Training Center, 1424 Stonum Road, Modesto. $45. (209) 593-5618.

▪ CRAB FEED – Feb. 7, Modesto Lions crab feed. Raffle, auction, prizes. 5 p.m. doors; 6 p.m. dinner. $40. Modesto Elks Lodge, 645 Charity Way. (209) 484-9229 or (209) 526-6200.

▪ CRAB FEED – Feb. 7, Commemorative Air Force annual crab feed fundraiser. Silent and oral auctions, raffles, no-host bar. Advance tickets only. 5 to 10 p.m. Modesto Airport, Hangar 1, 700 Tioga Drive. $40. (209) 605-4313.

▪ CRAB FEED AND DEMO – Feb. 22, Society for Creative Anachronism’s fifth annual crab feed and demonstration of martial arts skills and medieval combat. Displays of medieval arts and crafts. 5 p.m. doors; 6 p.m. dinner. $40. Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane, Manteca. (209) 932-9785.

This story was originally published January 15, 2015 at 6:31 PM with the headline "Claws for celebration – crab feed season is here."