CRAB FEST MANDURAH, 14 – 15 March 2020

A SEAFOOD gathering may have been held in and around Mandurah for hundreds of years, according to historical records. 

The large gatherings originated from the Barragup mungah (or fish trap/weir) on the Serpentine River, which was in regular use during the 19th century and probably for centuries prior to European colonisation: “The Barragup mungah in particular would have provided enough fish during the season to enable hundreds of people to congregate in the district for weeks or months on end,” states the WA Heritage Council.

The crab festival was originally a development of the Kanyana Carnival, a major community festival held in Mandurah for 30 years.  

Following the end of the carnival and a decline in weekend visitors, the City of Mandurah started planning an annual festival to attract people to the Peel area.

This led to the first Crab Fest in 1999. Since then the festival has gone from strength-to-strength and now attracts more than 100,000 people every year.

Crab Fest is Australia’s only crab-inspired festival, celebrating Mandurah’s iconic blue manna crab. 

The festival generated $8.3 million for the local economy last year.