HomeBlogA Guide to Crab Fest Weekend

A Guide to Crab Fest Weekend

Lauren Furr
February 6, 2026
Events & FestivalsFamily-friendly TravelSeasonal Highlights
A man and woman smile for a selfie, both wearing crab-themed hats with large eyes and claws. The man is in a blue shirt and sunglasses, while the woman wears a floral dress and straw hat. They stand by a waterfront with modern buildings in the background.

Get ready for Mandurah’s biggest event of the year! Crab Fest is back on March 14 & 15, 2026, bringing a weekend of incredible food, live music, family fun, and, of course, plenty of fresh Blue Swimmer Crabs. Whether you’re a foodie, a music lover, or just looking for a fun day out, Crab Fest has something for everyone.

 

What to Expect at Crab Fest 2026

Crab Fest is more than just a festival—it’s an experience. Held annually on the third weekend of March, this free event takes over Mandurah’s stunning foreshore, offering a packed schedule of entertainment, hands-on activities, and mouth-watering local seafood.

 

Festival Highlights

  • Live Music: Catch Havana Brown (Saturday) and Thelma Plum (Sunday) on the Seaside Estate Music Stage, plus a stellar lineup of local artists.
  • Spudshed Cooking Stage: Watch celebrity chefs, Brendan Pang, Diana Chan as well as WA icon Tony Galati whip up delicious seafood dishes with live cooking demos and tastings.
  • TV Stars: James Stewart and Ada Nicodemou from Home and Away will be this year’s Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest event ambassadors. Crab Fest crowds can catch Ada, who has been a staple of the Australian screen industry for more than 30 years, and James, who scored his breakout role in Packed to the Rafters in 2008, and other personalities on the Spudshed Cooking Stage and various other locations throughout Crab Fest weekend.
  • Mandurah Action Sports Games: Watch wakeboarding, BMX, skateboarding, and more as top athletes compete for $20,000 in cash and prizes.
  • Alcoa Family Zone: The perfect spot for kids, featuring amusements, a dedicated children’s stage, and roving entertainers.
  • Spectacular Fireworks: Watch the night sky light up over Mandurah’s waterways on Saturday at 8:30 pm. Best viewing spots? Stingray Point, The Boardwalk, and Eastern Foreshore.

 

Upgrade Your Experience: Ticketed Events

Want to take your Crab Fest experience up a notch? Book a VIP experience with special ticketed events, including the Buckle Up opening event and Cocktail Masterclasses! Secure your spot early via the Crab Fest website.

 

Pre-Festival Fun: UnCorked Mandurah

Want to stretch out your Crab Fest weekend? Start the celebrations early at Uncorked Mandurah, the weekend before the festival. Sip and sample your way along the waterfront with tastings from hand-picked wineries, alongside craft beers, boutique spirits and refreshing cocktails.

Set at Keith Holmes Reserve, UnCorked features four signature food and wine experiences, all designed to celebrate great flavours, relaxed vibes and Mandurah’s waterfront setting.

Four people stand outdoors at a festival, smiling and holding wine glasses. A man in the center has his arms around two women. The words Uncorked Mandurah appear above them. Lights and tents are visible in the background.

 

Getting to Crab Fest

Getting here is easy! Take the train to Mandurah and hop on the FREE shuttle buses running all weekend, dropping you right in the heart of the action.

 

More to Explore

The festival may be the star of the show, but Mandurah has so much more to offer. Make the most of your weekend with these must-do experiences.

 

Hop on a Cruise

Set off on the perfect family adventure and discover Mandurah’s waterways together.

  • Pirate Ship Cruise – Set sail with ‘Pete Blackbeard’ for a 45-minute pirate adventure (kids can dress up and fire water cannons!).

A pirate-themed boat with tattered flags sails on a calm river at sunset. The sky is clear, and the sun is low on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the water. Buildings and trees line the distant shore.

 

Best Spots for Fireworks

The Crab Fest fireworks are a must-see! On Saturday, March 14 at 8:30 pm, the sky will explode with color over Mandjar Bay.

Best viewing locations:

  • Eastern & Western Foreshore
  • Stingray Point (under the fig tree!)
  • Mandurah Bridge pedestrian walkway

Bring a picnic, grab a spot early, and get ready for a breathtaking show!

A group of people silhouetted against a colourful fireworks display over a body of water. The night sky is illuminated with vibrant bursts of red, green, and gold, reflecting on the calm water surface, with city lights in the background.

 

Prefer a Quiet Escape? Try These Activities

If you’d like to escape the festival buzz for a bit, Mandurah offers peaceful, family-friendly attractions just a short drive away.

 

A woman wearing a helmet and gloves is ziplining through a forest. She is smiling and wearing a red top, navy pants, and white sneakers. The background shows trees and wooden platforms in dappled sunlight.

 

Plan Your Crab Fest Weekend!

Mandurah’s Crab Fest is a weekend for everyone – whether you’re here for food, fun, adventure, or relaxation. So mark your calendars, grab your mates or family, and start planning an unforgettable weekend getaway!

See you at Crab Fest 2026!