Florida stone crab is a renowned delicacy across the state, and the town of St. Marks holds a festival every October to celebrate the tasty crustacean. The sleepy town in the state's Panhandle welcomes thousands of visitors to the festival, sporting a full day of live entertainment, educational booths and, of course, heaping helpings of stone crab claws.
Crabs for the Future
- Unlike much of the seafood pulled from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, stone crabs are a renewable resource. Fishermen snip off just one of the crustacean's black-tipped claws, then throw the crab back in the water. The crabs regrow their lost claws, and still have one powerful pincer with which to defend themselves and forage for food. The thick claws provide a solid chunk of tender meat, and are typically steamed and served with hot butter. The flavor of the claw meat has been compared with that of succulent lobster and is a sought-after treat during stone crab season.
Join the Crowd
- Stone crab is a staple of the town's economy from October through May, and the St. Marks Stone Crab Festival celebrates the opening of Florida's stone crab season each year. The festival has been an annual event since 1997, when the owners of the town's Riverside Cafe started it as a way to promote their business and highlight one of their signature seasonal dishes. Since then, the festival has boomed, attracting as many as 12,000 visitors to St. Marks' San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park to enjoy the festivities and gobble up the juicy crab meat.
- Let the Good Times Roll
- The stone crab claws are the festival's main attraction, but there's plenty going on to keep festival-goers entertained. A plethora of other seafood is available, as well as fair foods like funnel cakes for dessert. Live bands play throughout the day and local dance troupes -- from cloggers to belly dancers -- perform as well. A parade features sponsors of the festival and local organizations, with some people dressed in costumes ranging from crab-themed get-ups to superheroes and Confederate Civil War uniforms. Arts and crafts vendors sell handmade jewelry, original artwork and more. You might learn something, as well, since partners like the Archaelogical Institute of America set up booths at the festival to teach visitors about the area's natural history.
A Walk in the Park
- The festival's venue, San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, offers even more activities for those who want to take a break from the festival crowds. A hiking trail leads you through ruins of a Spanish fort, which was built in 1679 and occupied by Andrew Jackson in the 1800s. There's also a museum that details the park's history, focusing on the Spanish, British, American and Confederate forces that held the fort at various times. Walk down to Tucker's Point for sweeping views of the waters where the Wakulla and St. Marks Rivers converge.
